Who said what fresh hell is this?
The well-known wit of the same name brought laughter from others, but she experienced episodes of depression.She would proclaim when her doorbell rang.
The earliest evidence known to QI can be found in the 1970 biography "You Might as Well Live: The Life and Times of Dorothy Parker".The book records the testimony of a journalist.
He said that when she left the apartment to get a taxi, she had a look of resolution on her face.If the doorbell rang in her apartment, she would say, "Do your worst; I'll make it home all right."
The editorial page of a newspaper in Montana in 1906 used the phrases "fresh hell" and "warmed-overhell" while discussing the importance of news organizations to generate a constant stream of material.
When there is no fresh hell to serve, journalism does the next best thing and dishes up some warmed-over hell.About 10,000 words a night are sent by the associated press.In a time of excitement or a period of world-wide stagnation, come the 10,000 well-edited words a night.
The stream-of-consciousness piece was published in 1928 by the New York columnist O.O. McIntyre.
bathtub bookracks are an idea.There are more glass building fronts.What has become of feather boas?A sign made of brass.What fresh hell is that?
The expression was attributed to her as mentioned at the beginning of the article.
She would say, "What fresh hell can this be?" if the doorbell rang in her apartment.
In 1988 a version of the saying appeared in the title of a biography.The following passage was included in the introduction.