Customer Reviews

The Lawrenceville Stories (A Touchstone book)

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Some of the funniest short stories ever written.

The Lawrenceville academy is a real prep school that was already old in 1910, when these stories are set. Life was more innocent back then; rowdy schoolboys had to try harder and really use their brains to find ways raise hell. Pranks, hacks, truly serious con games, feuds, secret rooms, thefts, illegal boxing matches, strikes, hazing, political riots, illicit gambling, shaving heads just because they're bored, etc.

But what really makes the stories shine are the unforgettable characters (and their wild nicknames). The ultimate, deadly serious prankster "The Prodigious" Hickey. Those terrifying teenage con artists "Doc" MacNooder and "The Tenessee Shad". The preppie hero who starts out as a thieving kid from hell; "Dink" Stover. And many lesser characters, teachers and students, some only seen in one story, others recurring and giving the school a feeling of solid reality.

I believe the stories were originally published separately, but were collected into three books. "The Prodigious Hickey", "The Varmaint" about Dink Stover, and "The Tennessee Shad". This edition has all of the stories together under one cover, which I've had for 25 years now and have read dozens of times. These are some of the best and funniest short stories ever written, wonderful when read separately, but best read as a whole.

This ed. from Touchstone was tied to the PBS series and contains only the first two of the collections: "The Prodigious Hickey" and "The Tennessee Shad." The older Simon and Schuster ed. 1967 contains "The Varmint" as well, which introduces Dink Stover.
Since neither is in print, I'd recommend getting the S&S ed.

For anyone who hasn't read this book or seen the special episode on American Playhouse, you're missing out. This boook is full of laughs, colorful characters, and stories to delight anyone. It's refreshing to be able to read a novel that is thoroughly entertaining and well written.

My first encounter with Owen Johnson's immortal "The Lawrenceville Stories" was way back in the early 1970s, when my father's older sister gave him a copy. Even today, I remember his helpless laughter as he sat and read the book in just one or two gulps--he could scarcely put it down and got red-faced with the giggles dozens of times throughout the book. As an adult, I bought myself a copy, and it remains a treasured book. Even those who have no prep school experience will enjoy these tales of boys being boys and working so hard to avoid working that they end up working even harder than they would have had they done things by the book.

My all-time favorite piece in the book remains "The Great Pancake Record," in which shrimpy little Johnnie Smeed is found to have the most enormous appetite known to anyone at Lawrenceville--and is therefore put on display as the man who can take all comers in an ongoing pancake-eating contest at a local restaurant called Conover's. Of course he is misjudged by his slight physical appearance:

"Mr. Conover," said Hickey, in the quality of manager, "we're going after that pancake record."

"Mr. Wilkins' record?" said Conover, seeking vainly the champion in the crowd.

"No--after that record of YOURS," answered Hickey. "Thirty-two pancakes--we're here to get free pancakes today--that's what we're here for."

"So, boys, so," said Conover, smiling pleasantly; "and you want to begin now?"

"Right off the bat."

"Well, where is he?"

Little Smeed, famished to the point of tears, was thrust forward. Conover, who was expecting something along the lines of a buffalo, smiled confidently. "So, boys, so," he said, leading the way with alacrity. "I guess we're ready, too."

"Thirty-two pancakes, Conover--and we get 'em free!"

"That's right," answered Conover, secure in his knowledge of boyish capacity. "If that little boy there can eat thirty-two, I'll make them all day free to the school. That's what I said, and what I say goes--and that's what I say now."

This is my favorite of the stories, but they're ALL this good. You just can't beat Owen Johnson for understanding boys and their motives and ways, and you certainly can't beat him for giving you something to wonderful to laugh at while never making the boys seem ridiculous.

I was a student at the prestigious Lawrenceville School from 2004-2008. I have to say that many of the stories tucked away in the pages of this timeless classic are very reflective of the poise and pride that all of the students still hold today for their school. As a member of the infamous Kennedy house (The Kennedy), I can say that the stories of time in the house and around campus give a fair insight as to life of a typical Lawrenceville student. Great book and great movie.