Most of the Most of S.J. Perelman (Modern Library Humor and Wit) [Paperback]

S.J. Perelman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Modern Library Humor and Wit | Publication Date: May 30, 2000

This book includes many of the greatest hits from 1930 to 1958--available only in this edition--by the devastatingly witty Perelman, the leading figure of The New Yorker magazine's golden age of humor and one of the most popular American humorists ever. In these hilarious pieces, the charmingly cranky Perelman turns his scathing attention to books, movies, New York socialites, the newspaper business, country life, travel, Hollywood, the publishing industry, and, last but not least, himself. His self-portrait: "Under a forehead roughly comparable to . . . Piltdown Man are visible a pair of tiny pig eyes, lit up alternately by greed and concupiscence. . . . Before they made S. J. Perelman, they broke the mold." Sophisticated and supremely mischievous, Perelman is an acrobat of language who turns a phrase and then, before the reader has time to finish admiring his agility, turns it again.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From a letter from Groucho Marx to S. J. Perelman: "From the moment I picked up your book until I put it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it."

"The funniest writer since--himself."--Gore Vidal

From the Inside Flap

This book includes many of the greatest hits from 1930 to 1958--available only in this edition--by the devastatingly witty Perelman, the leading figure of The New Yorker magazine's golden age of humor and one of the most popular American humorists ever. In these hilarious pieces, the charmingly cranky Perelman turns his scathing attention to books, movies, New York socialites, the newspaper business, country life, travel, Hollywood, the publishing industry, and, last but not least, himself. His self-portrait: "Under a forehead roughly comparable to . . . Piltdown Man are visible a pair of tiny pig eyes, lit up alternately by greed and concupiscence. . . . Before they made S. J. Perelman, they broke the mold." Sophisticated and supremely mischievous, Perelman is an acrobat of language who turns a phrase and then, before the reader has time to finish admiring his agility, turns it again.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 572 pages
• Publisher: Modern Library (May 30, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679640371
• ISBN-13: 978-0679640370
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lengthy Volume of Perelman Prose, March 28, 2002

By 

Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Most of the Most of S.J. Perelman (Modern Library Humor and Wit) (Paperback)

Most of the Most of S.J. Perelman (part of the Humor and Wit series of Modern Library) is a lengthy, though abridged, volume of the Perelman pieces from 1930 - 1958, many of which originally appeared in the New Yorker, among other magazines. This book should not necessarily be read straight through, as I did to my slight regret, as it can become a little overwhelming. There is some dating in the material but it is more of a delight how little effect time has taken on the comedy. The best pieces are, without a doubt, the marvelous Cloudland Revisited sequences where the author looks at books and movies he admired in his youth to see what horrible things time, experience and maturity have done to them. These selections are the treasures of the volume. A fine look at the almost lost art of a certain form of humour writing at its height. A wonderful volume to be savoured slowly.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritually Uplifting, January 24, 2006

By 

Max A. Lebow (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Most of the Most of S.J. Perelman (Modern Library Humor and Wit) (Paperback)

This book has kept my spirits up over some very tough times. Each short essay is a gem of understated humor. Perelman's gift for making up names that make you laugh out loud -- especially if you know Yiddish -- is unparalleled.

This is a book to savor. Even the introduction and interstitial writing by the editor, Steve Martin, are hilarious.

Perelman is also an erudite humorist, throwing about deadly accurate references to the classics of American and European literature with abandon.

If it was worth lampooning between 1930 and 1958, Perelman lampoons it. The results have not aged badly.

Thanks, SJ, wherever you are.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy This if You Wore out Your Copy of THE MOST OF SJP, July 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Most of the Most of S.J. Perelman (Modern Library Humor and Wit) (Paperback)

It's the same book except it's missing treasures like "Dusk in Fierce Pajamas" (the Diana Vreeland parody). 5(000,000) stars for S.J.P. and 3 stars for the "editor".