Nora Ephron at the Movies: A Visual Celebration of the Writer and Director Behind When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and More

(Hardback)

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The first illustrated monograph on writer, journalist, and director Nora Ephron, the visionary behind When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and Youve Got Mail

With her singular voice, Nora Ephron flourished as a dominant force in the entertainment industry, focusing on the idiosyncrasies of romance that were universally relatable. The women in her stories paralleled realitythe veil was lifted, the glossy sheen removed. Her protagonists share an unwavering sense of humor about lifes mishaps, and they never take themselves too seriouslylike Julie trying to master the art of cooking lobsters in Julie & Julia, Sallys theatrical fake orgasm in Katzs deli in When Harry Met Sally, or Rachel perfecting a key kime pie only to throw it in her cheating husbands face in Heartburn.

Through her keenly self-aware humor and semi-autobiographical stories, Ephron left behind a groundbreaking legacy as a beloved journalist, essayist, screenwriter, author, producer, director, and feminist who delivered stories of resilience embedded in sharp wit and upper-crust landscapes. Through that lens, she became emblematic of rom-coms, shifting and redefining conversations around the complexities of relationships and the women who have them. Nora Ephron at the Movies offers an unfiltered look at Ephron as a champion of the rom-com and as a feminist Hollywood trailblazer. It explores her life and work by pairing detailed criticism with exclusive interviews with Ephrons key collaborators, including Andie MacDowell and Jenn Kaytin Robinson, to add color and nuance to her life and legacy.

Reviews

Ilana Kaplan would make Nora Ephron proud with this smart, elegant, and entertaining journey through the filmmakers cinematic universe. I savored every page, and the Ephron fandom will too. I, for one, plan on displaying the book in my cozy living room for #MegRyanFall and the foreseeable future. It makes me want to buy school supplies. And toss on Ryans maroon sweater in When Harry Met Sally. To reference Frank Navasky: Thank you, Ilana, for writing a book Ill cherish forever. * Erin Carlson, author of Ill Have What Shes Having and No Crying in Baseball *
Taking on the legacy of Nora Ephronthe woman, the myth, the legendis no easy task, but Ilana has managed to do so gracefully by assessing Ephrons lasting impact in all of its complicated beauty in this visually-stunning book. To see ourselves through Noras most famous works often reminds us of how human and flawed we actually are. And thats a wonderful thing. * Kristin Marguerite Doidge, author of Nora Ephron: A Biography and Woman on Top: Becoming Greta Gerwig (forthcoming) *
A comprehensive guide to the queen of the modern rom-com (and so much more!), Nora Ephron at the Movies is both thought-provoking and a joy to read. Writing with affection, insight, and wit, Ilana Kaplan has crafted a beautiful tribute to Ephron's remarkable life and work. * Scott Meslow, author of From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (And Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy *

Author Bio

Ilana Kaplan is a writer and culture editor. She has worked for publications including PEOPLE, Alternative Press, The Independent and PAPER. Her work has been published in the New York Times, New York magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, GQ, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Pitchfork, Variety, and Billboard. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.