Still the talk of the town

Collection of scribe’s work

Lillian Ross began her career at The New Yorker in 1945 as a reporter for The Talk of the Town section. Seven decades later, audiences continue to be charmed by a collection of her writings in Reporting Always.

Ross was 19 when managing editor Harold Ross hired her. Although impatient, he was a mentor who encouraged her to “follow your own bent.”

Whether it was her young age or an eagerness to succeed at an exciting new job,

Ross has a way of painting a visual picture for the audience. She has the ability to dive deep into the minds and hearts of interviewees.

Ross wasn’t afraid to tackle each assignment with her own style. Basic curiosity was the building block of that style.

One endearing entry is an essay featuring Ernest Hemingway. The novelist welcomes Ross to tag along on a few excursions as he and his family visit New York City in 1950. Ross depicted the great writer as an energetic man who hated to shop and loved to drink.

She simply did her job — reporting not only what she saw, but also on what she heard, felt, tasted and touched.

Ross has a way of painting a visual picture for the audience. She has the ability to dive deep into the minds and hearts of interviewees.

And readers are lucky that, through her writing, they can come along for the ride.