George Jean Nathan

1882–1958 · American drama critic and magazine editor

George Jean Nathan (14 February 1882 – 8 April 1958) was the most feared American drama critic of his generation and, with H. L. Mencken, co-founder and co-editor of The Smart Set and The American Mercury. His reviewing style was exactly the register this joke lives in: compressed, contemptuous and built for reprinting. That is also why the joke could migrate — a Nathan-shaped insult is a Parker-shaped insult, and only one of those names is still a household word.

Traced to source

1 quote we’ve traced

“He's a Writer for the Ages—For the Ages of Four to Eight”

Disputed

Not actually George Jean Nathan

Often misattributed to George Jean Nathan

Famous lines widely pinned on George Jean Nathan that we’ve traced to someone else.

“Origin of a Theatrical Review: I Saw It Under Adverse Conditions. The Curtain Was Up”

actually George S. Kaufman

Did they really say it?

Thought George Jean Nathan said something else?

Type a quote you think George Jean Nathan said — we’ll tell you what we know, or point you to the best sources.