Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye

by Florence King

In this collection of essays, Florence King confirms her position as one of the wittiest social critics now writing-and certainly the most uninhibited. Nothing escapes her withering gaze, from our greatest national institution ("Democrazy"), to the cult of Helpism ("Does Your Child Taste Salty?"), to the rules of historical romance writing ("Sex and the Saxon Churl"). If caring 'n' compassion are getting you down, open this book for a refreshing whiff of vitriol.

Genres: Humor, Essays, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Politics, Memoir, Social Commentary

198 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 1990

About the author

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1936 to a bookish British father and a tomboy American mother, Florence King spent her childhood living with her parents, her maternal grandmother, and her grandmother's maid.

King showed talent in French, but unable to pursue it as a major at American University, she switched to a dual major of history and English. She attended the University of Mississippi for graduate school, but did not complete her M.A. degree after discovering she could make a living as a writer.

King, who lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the time of her death, retired in 2002, but resumed writing a monthly column for National Review in 2006. She died on January 6, 2016 at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody writes essays as funny and as insightful as the indescribable King. Is she a gun-toting Southern Belle, a radical lesbian feminist, or a literate New York Times reviewer? She defies description and curmudgeonly blasts everyone. Her parody of John Updike(whom I love) is worth the price of the book. I've read everything she's written several times.

[Terri Weitze · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny when not being pompous

The style is great; the content less so. King is probably too conservative for my taste but when our life outlooks coincide she’s very funny.

[Graeme Whitton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed re-reading this though it's now a bit dated. Not as good as her 'Confessions'

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

She definitely has some opinions. Her writing made me giggle a few times, but overall, I didn't enjoy the read.

[Patrick O'Hannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence King's essays are funny and unsparing. Her take on Southern folkways and attitudes helped acclimate me to the region when I moved from California to North Carolina, and she graciously sent me a post card in response to fan mail I'd written to her when I considered her column in National Review a must-read, back in the day.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

amusing group of essays

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all her books.

[Neena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an angry rant. She also wrote "Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady" which I liked. This one - not so much.