The Rising Gorge

The Rising Gorge is a collection of humorous essays and short pieces by S.J. Perelman, first published in 1961. The book compiles work that originally appeared in The New Yorker and other publications during the 1950s. Perelman presents his encounters and observations from travels across America and abroad, including accounts of Hollywood, Broadway, and literary life. His commentary ranges from pop culture and advertising to food, fashion, and the peculiarities of modern life in mid-century America. The essays incorporate Perelman's signature wordplay and satirical style, blending sophisticated references with slapstick situations. His narratives often feature an exasperated persona navigating through absurd circumstances and interactions. The collection stands as both a cultural snapshot of post-war America and a demonstration of how humor can expose social pretensions and human foibles. Through wit and observation, Perelman's work examines the gap between how people wish to appear and who they really are.

Readers highlight Perelman's wordplay and satirical observations in this collection of humor essays. Many reviewers note his ability to find absurdity in everyday situations, particularly in pieces about travel and consumer culture. Readers liked: - Dense, literary humor with frequent cultural references - Energetic writing style and clever turns of phrase - Essays poking fun at advertising and social pretensions Common criticisms: - Dated cultural references that require footnotes - Dense writing style can feel exhausting - Some jokes rely too heavily on 1950s context Goodreads rating: 4.0/5 (34 ratings) Amazon rating: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) One reader described it as "like P.G. Wodehouse with more bite," while another called it "brilliant but occasionally impenetrable." Multiple reviews mention needing to keep a dictionary nearby. A recurring theme in reviews is that the humor rewards patient readers who put in effort to understand the references.

Without Feathers by Woody Allen Collection of absurdist essays and short pieces that blend intellectual references with deadpan humor in the tradition of Perelman's wit.

Fierce Pajamas by E.B. White and Harold Ross This anthology of New Yorker humor pieces contains writing that matches Perelman's mix of sophistication and satire.

The Insanity Defense by Woody Allen Essays and stories that combine neurotic observations with literary parody in the same vein as Perelman's style.

The Most of S.J. Perelman by S.J. Perelman This comprehensive collection presents more of Perelman's signature wordplay and satirical observations about modern life.

A Wodehouse Bestiary by P.G. Wodehouse These comic tales share Perelman's flair for linguistic gymnastics and social commentary wrapped in humor.

🎭 S.J. Perelman wrote for the Marx Brothers, including their classic film "Monkey Business," bringing his signature wit and wordplay to their madcap comedy. 📚 The Rising Gorge (1961) is a collection of Perelman's humorous essays, many of which first appeared in The New Yorker magazine, where he was a regular contributor for decades. ✒️ Perelman's writing style influenced later humorists like Woody Allen and is known for its sophisticated vocabulary, outrageous metaphors, and parodies of purple prose. 🏆 S.J. Perelman won an Academy Award for his screenplay of "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), five years before publishing The Rising Gorge. 🌟 Dorothy Parker, a fellow member of the Algonquin Round Table, once said of Perelman: "There is no writer quite like him, and probably just as well."