When we talk about Nora Ephron, it’s difficult not to think of her first as a filmmaker, second as a writer. Sure, you might love Wallflower at the Orgy or Heartburn, but Ephron’s brand of smart, cosmopolitan rom-com will probably remain her most celebrated legacy.
Although plenty of us have memorized every word of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, the fact of the matter is that Nora Ephron: writer should be just as highly regarded as Nora Ephron: director. Her years as a journalist, her essays, her novels, and yes, even her screenplays all add up to a body of work that equals the output of some of our most vaunted and venerable American writers. And what’s best is that not only was she prolific, but Ephron was also a perceptive and pithy writer, which is why we’ve picked her as Flavorwire’s July Author Club selection. Over the next few weeks, we will present a series of essays looking at Ephron’s various writings, her themes, her fearlessness, and her humor. Though her cultural contributions hardly need talking up, we’re happy to steer the conversation in another direction, even if it’s just for a little while.