The Best of Everything

Finished The Best of Everything by Ronna Jaffe. Originally published in 1958, it's the story of a group of women working at a New York publishing firm. This book has been on my TBR list for a while. I was prompted to move it up after reading a piece in The New York Times about a new stage production based on the novel.

The story of these women is compelling because of the changes taking place in society and the microcosm of the Manhattan workplace. Each character starts out in the typing pool. Several obtain their MRS degrees along the way and are able to leave their typewriters behind to become wives and mothers. While some have aspired to this all along, a few see their career as their ultimate fulfillment. I found myself thinking of Peggy Olson from Mad Men throughout the book. In fact, it's clear that Mad Men is informed by Jaffe's novel.