The Thorne Smith Reader: Nine Novels by Thorne SmithThis collection includes some of Thorne Smith's greatest works    Topper: The Jovial Ghosts (1926)    The Stray Lamb (1929)    Turnabout (1931)    The Night Life of the Gods (1931)    Topper Takes a Trip (1932)    The Bishop's Jaegers (1932)    Rain in the Doorway (1933)    Skin and Bones (1933)    The Glorious Pool (1934)Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He wa...

The Jazz Age comedy of manners about a straitlaced banker and two bon vivant ghosts that inspired the classic film starring Cary Grant.Bank manager Cosmo Topper has settled into a stable, respectable, and thoroughly boring life. In need of a little adventure, he decides to buy a secondhand car—a detail he neglects to tell his staid wife, Mary. But Topper's little secret turns into an unexpectedly wild ride when he discovers the automobile is haunted by its previous...

Topper Takes a Trip is the 1932 follow up to Topper: The Jovial Ghosts. It follows Cosmo Topper and his (mis)adventures with two ghosts. Made into a film and a sitcom, the Topper series is Smith's most famous work.Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for his Topper novels as well as the novel that was later adapted to create Bewitched. His witty takes on modern life, sex, and the supernatural makes...

In 'The Night Life of the Gods,' Thorne Smith weaves a fantastical narrative infused with humor and clever social satire. The novel chronicles the escapades of a group of mischievous deities who descend from Mount Olympus to experience the pleasures and vices of 1920s New York City. Smith's literary style is marked by a playful use of language, whimsical dialogue, and a structure that lends itself to both farce and philosophical musing on the nature of humanity. This book stands as a signi...

The Night Life of the Gods is another great fantasy adventure from Thorne Smith. Hunter Hawk is an inventor of a device that turns people into to stone and vice versa. He meets 900-year-old Megaera and the two head for the Metropolitan Museum of Art to bring the Greek gods to life.Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for his Topper novels as well as the novel that was later adapted to create Bewitc...

Thorne Smith's "Topper" presents a delightful blend of humor and supernatural elements, weaving a narrative that expertly explores themes of social propriety and the pursuit of happiness. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, the book follows George and Marian Topper, an ordinary couple whose lives are turned upside down when they encounter the spirited ghosts of a young couple. Smith's witty prose and whimsical characterizations breathe life into a world where the boundaries b...

In 'Topper Takes a Trip,' Thorne Smith masterfully blends humor, fantasy, and a whimsical narrative style, creating a light-hearted exploration of the afterlife and social conventions. This novel continues the adventures of George and Marion Topper, allowing readers to accompany them on a comedic escapade filled with mischief and supernatural encounters. Smith employs a satirical tone, reflecting the 1930s American culture while skillfully juxtaposing the mundane with the fantastical, invi...

Rain in the Doorway, published in 1933, is full of sexual innuendo. Hector Owen is a partner in a department store and we follow his adventures with a salesgirl from the pornographic books department. Ending up in a courtroom, the novel has a surprise ending that will keep you turning pages.Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for his Topper novels as well as the novel that was later adapted to cre...

The Bishop's Jaegers was published in 1932. A coffee importer, Peter Van Dyke, is caught in a scandal. Set adrift the adventure takes him to a nudist colony this comic novel takes an exciting turn. A departure from Smith's other writing which typically involve supernatural elements. Smith assumes the reader will know that "Jaegers" refers to a union suit.Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for his To...

In "The Bishop's Jaegers," Thorne Smith combines wit with satirical commentary, crafting a narrative that explores the intersections of faith, excess, and the human condition. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly idyllic, yet comically dysfunctional, ecclesiastical setting, Smith employs a humorous literary style reminiscent of the Roaring Twenties, replete with vivid imagery and playful dialogue. The novel weaves a tale of misadventures that critiques societal norms through the lens of...

The Glorious Pool, published in 1934, is a humorous novel set in the time of Prohibition. Rex Pepple is an adulterous old man with a mistress and a Japanese houseboy who discover a swimming pool that contains water from a fountain of youth. Hijinks are bound to ensue. Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for his Topper novels as well as the novel that was later adapted to create Bewitched. His witt...

Published by 1929, The Stray Lamb follows mild-mannered investment banker, cuckold, and dipsomaniac T. Lawrence Lamb. He has many adventures and transforms into various animals throughout the novel. As in many Thorne Smith novels, a courtroom scene involving the protagonists and an exasperated judge provides a climax to the characteristically tipsy action. Thorne Smith was a fantastic fantasy fiction writer who sold millions of paperbacks in the early twentieth century. He was famous for h...