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jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
2.0
This is the second outing of Cosmo Topper and his ghostly friends, and time has gone by, the author is six years older and even more world-weary. Although this time the action is set in France, which gives him a chance to have a go at the French as well as the Americans.
I originally preferred this second book, but now I find the first rather charming—childish in a nice way. The second book has its moments, but it displays a more adolescent sense of humour with a touch of malice, which may not appeal unless you're in the mood for it.
By now we're into the 1930s, and sex is permitted—adulterous sex, even—although quite discreetly and not in front of the cameras. This comes as something of a relief: two consecutive novels in which Cosmo and Marion fail to consummate their relationship would have been too much to swallow, at least for modern readers.
I originally preferred this second book, but now I find the first rather charming—childish in a nice way. The second book has its moments, but it displays a more adolescent sense of humour with a touch of malice, which may not appeal unless you're in the mood for it.
By now we're into the 1930s, and sex is permitted—adulterous sex, even—although quite discreetly and not in front of the cameras. This comes as something of a relief: two consecutive novels in which Cosmo and Marion fail to consummate their relationship would have been too much to swallow, at least for modern readers.
creechance's review against another edition
5.0
Britain has Wodehouse; America has Thorne Smith. He is a national treasure who should be more widely read. Unfortunately, he is out of print in this country. However, you can still find his books at Amazon.co.uk. "Topper Takes a Trip" is the follow-up to Topper. Topper is a banker who develops a following of hard-partying ghosts. In this book he goes to the South of France. My favorite wordplay is the drunken slurring of "Goddarme Gendamns" (French cops). Hilarity ensues everywhere. This is not a serious novel, but it is in the canon of humorous novels. Read Smith and you will think you've seen it all before in comedy films. That is because Hollywood stole a lot of what it knows about comedy from Smith, and it is still funny today.
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