"Dorothy Parker's stern eye mixed with the sass of Mark Twain, and a jigger of Christopher Hitchens thrown in for good, boozy measure." —The Atlantic

One part celebration, one part history, two parts manifesto, Bernard DeVoto's The Hour is a comic and unequivocal treatise on how and why we drink—properly. The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author turns his shrewd wit on the spirits and attitudes of his time (warning: this book is NOT for rum drinkers), and instructs readers on how to drink with class while shedding new light on the simple joys of the cocktail hour. An immediate classic, and perfect gift for the modern drinker, Wallace Stegner called it "a manual of witchcraft, a book of spells and observances" and Lewis Lapham hailed it as "generous, indomitable and wise." With a wonderful introduction from Daniel Handler, this fully illustrated reprint of the 1950s definitive drinking guide provides a humorous and nostalgic read guaranteed to lift your spirits.