Scoundrel Time

Lillian Hellman is remembered not only as an accomplished playwright, an acclaimed memoirist, and an irrepressible curmudgeon, but as a controversial figure during the early days of the McCarthy era. In 1952, her refusal to become an informer for the House Un-American Activities Committee earned her a mix of respect and disdain, as well as a place on the Hollywood blacklist. This remarkable chronicle, the third and final volume of Hellman's memoirs, is a powerful evocation of her experiences during that volatile period. The cast of characters includes her longtime companion, the writer Dashiell Hammett; a slew of famous friends and colleagues; and a legendary pack of "scoundrels" - ruthless, ambitious politicians and the people who complied with their demands. Scoundrel Time is vintage Hellman: iconoclastic and enduring. 155 pages.