Ada Dallas

by Wirt Williams

Vintage paperback

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

Reviews

[Jay]

A portrait of a complex, ambitious at times mercenary and ruthless, at others alluring woman told from the perspective of the three men whose lives she impacted most.

In a way it's strange since the lead character of Ada Dallas doesn't have a voice of her own in the story merely those men's impressions of her actions but she is still a vivid character with unknowable qualities. However as described Ada may have retained that air of mystery even if her viewpoint was given since you get a sense that even she did not fully understand herself.

The book was adapted into a (much different) movie in the sixties starring Susan Hayward, an artist rendering of whom adorns the cover. Though she is described as somewhat physically different a few times in the book having that picture and being familiar with the actress and her tough no-nonsense screen persona (this character is right in her wheelhouse) envisioning her throughout the novel helped in making Ada a flesh and blood creation.

It's a dense read but an interesting one about a group of very flawed people.

[Mariya Serdyuk]

The book that impressed me the most in my teenage years.

[Lynn]

This was a disappointing read for me - although I did enjoy it as being so old, was funny reading about the customs or the culture at the time!