Most Popular Books by James Thurber

Winner of a special Tony Award and first performed in New York by Tom Ewell, Peggy Cass, Paul Ford and Alice Ghostley, these sketches of humorous scenes from American life include some of Thurber''s most celebrated and insightful satires: The Night the Bed Fell, Gentlemen Shoppers, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and the unforgettable File and Forget in which Thurber recounts his famous correspondence with various publishers who ship him books which he doesn''t want and never ordered. A perfect evening of comedy.

In ''Further Fables for Our Time,'' James Thurber extends his acerbic wit and whimsical storytelling to craft a collection of modern fables that resonate with the zeitgeist of the mid-twentieth century. As with his earlier work, these fables are characterized by their ironic tone and pithy morals, which deliver potent insights into human nature and societal follies. Thurber employs a minimalist narrative style that belies the depth of his social commentary, situating his work within the broader tradition of satirical literature. This new DigiCat edition, carefully restored for contemporary audiences, ensures that Thurber''s sharp humor and philosophical musings remain accessible in the digital age, both in print and ebook formats, safeguarding his literary legacy.nnAs a celebrated humorist, cartoonist, and author, James Thurber''s literary trajectory was largely influenced by the complexities and paradoxes of the human condition. His experiences working at ''The New Yorker'' magazine and living through the tumultuous eras of the Great Depression and World Wars shaped his perspective, infusing his writing with a distinctive blend of the comedic and the critical. ''Further Fables for Our Time'' represents a continuation of his exploration into the absurdity of life, a collection informed by Thurber''s keen observations of the absurd and his incisive reflections on contemporary culture.nn''Readers seeking to engage with a master storyteller who deftly intertwines humor with a penetrating critique of social mores will find ''Further Fables for Our Time'' to be an invaluable addition to their library. Thurber''s ability to distill complex ideas into entertaining yet thought-provoking tales makes this book an enduring classic, perfect for those who appreciate the power of a well-turned phrase and the enduring truth within a skillfully spun yarn. To delve into this collection is to reconnect with a voice that continues to echo through the annals of American literature, offering laughter and wisdom in equal measure.

James Thurber''s ''My Life and Hard Times'' is an exemplary work of humor and wit that both illumines and transcends the peculiarities of its epoch. Within its pages, readers find a collection of autobiographical essays, showcasing Thurber''s distinctive literary style, marked by playful language and an ironic tone. The narrative is subtly layered, interweaving farcical elements with a stark, almost surreal portrayal of everyday life in the early 20th century. Operating at the confluence of reality and fantasy, Thurber''s work fits snugly in the American humor tradition, akin to Mark Twain, yet carving its distinct niche through an imaginative foray into the ordinary turned extraordinary. Thurber''s pen draws heavily from the inkwell of his personal experience. An illustrious contributor to ''The New Yorker,'' his creative output was undoubtedly influenced by the social and political turmoil of his times. His writings often reflect a hint of nostalgic reflection and a coping mechanism against the backdrop of the interwar period. ''My Life and Hard Times'' arises from a deep well of both adversity and observational acumen, presenting vignettes that offer escapism while simultaneously holding a mirror to the chaotic world around him. A gem for those appreciative of classic American humor, ''My Life and Hard Times'' beckons readers to partake in a journey through the whimsical corridors of Thurber''s experiences. This book is not merely a diversion but a literary pilgrimage, promising laughter and insight in equal measure. Scholars and general readers alike will celebrate this edition by DigiCat Publishing for preserving Thurber''s legacy and introducing his genius to new generations. It is a testament to humor''s enduring power in revealing profound truths about the human condition.

LITERATURE-CLASSICS & CONTEMPORARY

In "Let Your Mind Alone! And Other More or Less Inspirational Pieces", James Thurber showcases his distinctive blend of humor, wit, and insightful observation, presenting a collection that traverses the complexities of human thoughts and behaviors. The book is characterized by Thurber''s keen ability to blend anecdotal storytelling with profound philosophical questions, often presenting life''Äôs absurdities with an irreverent flair. Set against the backdrop of mid-20th-century America, Thurber''s writing resonates with a dynamic interplay of humor and pathos, making the mundane appear extraordinary while inviting readers to embrace uncertainty in their lives. James Thurber, an acclaimed American author and cartoonist, has long been recognized for his sharp intellect and unique perspective on human nature. His experiences in journalism and as a social observer in a changing America greatly influenced his literary voice. The themes in this book reflect Thurber''Äôs engagement with contemporary issues of his time, offering timeless reflections that remain relevant today. His ability to meld humor with deeper insights reveals not only the absurdities of life but also the resilience of the human spirit. This collection is a must-read for anyone seeking both inspiration and a hearty laugh. Thurber''Äôs talent for marrying humor with profound truths makes this book a delightful companion for those navigating the challenges of modern life. Whether you are a long-time admirer of his work or a newcomer, "Let Your Mind Alone!" promises to engage and uplift, reminding us to embrace our own perplexities in this beautifully chaotic world.

In "Alarms and Diversions," James Thurber presents a collection of whimsical essays and stories that delve into the absurdities of everyday life. Renowned for his unique blend of humor and insight, Thurber employs a keenly observational literary style that captures the eccentricities of human behavior and social norms. The book serves as a poignant commentary on the post-war American society of the 1940s, reflecting both the charm and the chaos of the era. His deft illustrations further enrich the text, providing a visual lens through which readers can appreciate the humor and wit that permeate his work. James Thurber, a prominent figure in American literature, was celebrated not only as a writer but also as a cartoonist and playwright. Raised in a family that valued creativity, his experiences in a rapidly evolving society undoubtedly influenced his perspective. His insightful satire draws on personal anecdotes and the realities of urban life, illuminating the often overlooked absurdities that define human existence. Thurber''s unique approach to storytelling blends humor with profound observations, making his work timeless and relatable. "Alarms and Diversions" is recommended for readers seeking a rich exploration of humor interlaced with sharp societal critique. Thurber''s masterful storytelling invites introspection while entertaining with his lighthearted yet pointed commentary on life. Perfect for both literary enthusiasts and casual readers, this collection promises laughter alongside a deeper understanding of the complexities of the human experience.

Though many try, only the court jester is able to fulfill Princess Lenore''s wish for the moon.

A book of humor and satire covers topics from baseball to Macbeth.

Great American humorist James Thurber’s beloved, madcap, and eerily timely fairy tale about an island society robbed of the wonders of the letter O—in a stunning Deluxe Edition featuring flaps, deckle-edged paper, and the original, full-color illustrations Littlejack has a map that indicates the existence of a treasure on a far and lonely island, and Black has a ship to get there. So the two bad men team up and sail off on Black’s vessel, the Aeiu. The name, Black explains, is all the vowels except for O—which he hates since his mother got wedged in a porthole: They couldn’t pull her in, so they had to push her out. Black and Littlejack arrive at the port and demand the treasure. No one knows anything about it, so they have their henchmen ransack the place—to no avail. But Black has a better idea: He will take over the island and purge it of O. (“I''ll issue an edict!”) The harsh limits of a life sans O (where shoe is she and woe is we) and how finally with a little luck and lots of pluck the islanders shake off their overbearing interlopers and discover the true treasure for themselves (Oh yes—and get back their O’s)—these are only some of the surprises that await readers of James Thurber’s timelessly zany fairy tale about two louts who try to lock up the language—and lose. It is a tour de force of wordplay that will delight fans of Lewis Carroll, Dr. Seuss, Edward Lear, and Roald Dahl, and a timely reminder of how people can band together in the name of freedom to overthrow a tyrant. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

In Conversations with James Thurber this remarkable man who has been called America''s twentieth-century Mark Twain and who was one of the great talkers of his time expresses his opinions on just about everything and recounts stories and anecdotes about his life which provided the basis for much of his humor writing. These entertaining interviews, conducted by Arthur Miller, Harvey Breit, George Plimpton, Arthur Gelb, and others, span twenty-two years, from 1939-1961. In them Thurber recalls his youth in Columbus, Ohio, his struggles as a student at Ohio State University, and his days of literary and journalistic apprenticeship in Europe as a code clerk and newspaperman who had to recreate entire stories from a few words of coded copy provided by the wire service. He tells too of his early days in New York City when he joined the staff of The New Yorker, of the origins of his drawings, of the pleasures that word games and mental puzzles gave him, and of his increasing blindness and its effect on his work and his perception of the world. As a man who like to express his opinions and to have an audience, Thurber enjoyed interviews and rarely refused to grant them. With the interview format, he became so skilled that he perfected the interview-monologue into a Thurberesque art form, the oral equivalent of the autobiographical essay that he refined in his prose.

This collection brings together the best of James Thurber''s brilliantly funny, eccentric and anarchic writings. It includes his most famous work, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in which an ordinary man''s fantasies have a more powerful hold on him than reality, as well as essays, poetry and cartoons gathered from all of Thurber''s collections. Making fun of his own weaknesses and those of other people (and dogs) - the English teacher who looked only at figures of speech, the Airedale who refused to include him in the family, the botany lecturer who despaired of him totally - James Thurber is a true original, whose off-beat imagination shows us everyday life from a different angle. ''One of the great humorists.'' Sunday Times

In "The Middle Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze," James Thurber employs his signature blend of wry humor and keen observation to explore the existential dilemmas faced by men grappling with both age and ambition. This collection of short stories, rich with Thurber''s trademark wit, delves into the absurdity of everyday life and the bittersweet nature of middle age. The narratives are characterized by their imaginative storytelling and a style that oscillates between satire and poignant reflection, encapsulating the cultural milieu of early 20th-century America, when societal expectations often clashed with personal dreams. James Thurber, an influential figure in American literature, was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1894 and became renowned for his contributions to The New Yorker magazine. His experiences as a man balancing humor and pathos in the face of life''s incongruities deeply informed his writing. The book reflects his own sense of vulnerability while navigating the complexities of adulthood amid a rapidly changing society, presenting a reflective yet playful commentary on life''s inherent contradictions. I highly recommend "The Middle Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze" to readers who appreciate a combination of sharp humor and profound insight. Thurber''s unwavering honesty and ability to illuminate the hilarity of our shared human condition make this collection a delightful yet thought-provoking read for anyone seeking to reconcile their dreams with the realities of life.

A comprehensive collection of the American humorist’s best work—including “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”—plus original drawings and a chronology of Thurber’s own troubled life James Thurber, whimsical fantasist and deadpan chronicler of everyday absurdities, brought American humor into the 20th century. His comic persona, a modern city-dweller whose zaniest flights of free association are tinged with anxiety, remains hilarious, subtly disturbing, and instantly recognizable. Here, in over 1,000 pages, editor Garrison Keillor presents the best and most extensive collection ever assembled. Pieces include “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and “The Catbird Seat,” the brilliantly satirical Fables for Our Time, the classic My Life and Hard Times, and the best of The Owl in the Attic, Let Your Mind Alone!, My World—And Welcome to It, and the other famous books. Plus 500 wonderful drawings, including The Seal in the Bedroom and celebrated sequences like “The Masculine Approach” and “The War Between Men and Women.” Rounding out the volume is a selection from The Years with Ross, a memoir of the New Yorker publisher, and a number of wonderful early pieces never collected by Thurber. Only a book of this scope can do justice to Thurber’s extraordinary career and to the many unexpected turns of his comic genius. LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

"This book is not recommended to people who have a tendency to get bad hiccoughs from too much laughing. Thurber, probably one of the funniest of our or social commentators of this past century, is at his wittiest here, and each small piece is a gem within itself." --

These twenty-three humorous stories and essays and more than one hundred illustrations find James Thurber in absolutely top form. The book concludes with a sampling of articles Thurber wrote for the New Yorker''s "The Talk of the Town," demonstrating his often overlooked skill as a reporter.

A comprehensive selection of letters that give unprecedented insight into the life and career of one of America''s greatest and most enduring humorists.

"James Thurber was a comedic genius. His fables are not simply parodies of Aesop. They are wry, accurate, and powerful reflections of ourselves, our foibles, our follies, and, above all, our self-importance. And they are very, very funny." --Neil Gaiman James Thurber has been called “one of the world’s greatest humorists” by Alistair Cooke (TheAtlantic), and “one of our great American institutions” (Stanley Walker)—and few works reveal Thurber’s genius as powerfully as his fables. Perennially entertaining and astutely satirical, Thurber pinpricks the idiosyncrasies of life with verbal frivolity, hilarious insights, political shrewdness, and, of course, quirky, quotable morals. Now, readers can savor 85 fables by the twentieth century’s preeminent humorist collected for the first time in a single anthology. Here, Fables for Our Time, Further Fables for Our Time, and ten previously uncollected fables—illustrated by ten contemporary artists including Seymour Chwast, Mark Ulriksen, Laurie Rosenwald, and R. O. Blechman—are presented in Collected Fables, a must-have for readers of all ages.

At the helm of America''s most influential literary magazine for more than half a century, Harold Ross introduced the country to a host of exciting talent, including Robert Benchley, Alexander Woolcott, Ogden Nash, Peter Arno, Charles Addams, and Dorothy Parker. But no one could have written about this irascible, eccentric genius more affectionately or more critically than James Thurber -- an American icon in his own right -- whose portrait of Ross captures not only a complex literary giant but a historic friendship and a glorious era as well. "If you get Ross down on paper," warned Wolcott Gibbs to Thurber," nobody will ever believe it." But readers of this unforgettable memoir will find that they do.

The WISP series (short for Wonderfully Illustrated Short Pieces) represents an ingenious marriage of two creative forces: the artistry of today''s foremost children''s book illustrators and the literary legacy of beloved authors of popular short works for adults. The resulting offspring of this union are captivating, full-color illustrated editions of timeless classics that readers will want to savor and collect. For the first time ever, the series makes selected popular short works previously offered only in collections available in a unique, stand-alone format. Also for the first time, WISPs harness the talents of top children''s book illustrators for the benefit and delight of a new, older audience. The unique appeal of WISPs is brought to life in Marc Simont''s The Secret Lives of Walter Mitty and James Thurber, which imaginatively renders the fantastic adventures of the famed protagonist in Thurber''s beloved story, first published in 1939. Also included in this edition are Simont''s renderings of Thurber''s tongue-in-cheek autobiographical essay "The Secret Life of James Thurber", which first appeared in The New Yorker in 1943 and is not widely available. These one-of-a-kind, attractively priced and invitingly formatted illustrated editions will make a great impulse buy with broad appeal.

A henpecked husband copes with the frustrations of his dull life by imagining he is a fearless airplane pilot, a brilliant doctor, and other dashing figures.

Contains 24 pieces in which the well-known humorist is largely concerned with the survival of our English language, currently being subjected to much erroneous use.

With the help of his magical protector, Golux, Prince Zorn performs impossible tasks to win the hand of Princess Saralina.

The first book of prose published by either James Thurber or E. B. White, Is Sex Necessary? combines the humor and genius of both authors to examine those great mysteries of life -- romance, love, and marriage. A masterpiece of drollery, this 75th Anniversary Edition stands the test of time with its sidesplitting spoof of men, women, and psychologists; more than fifty funny illustrations by Thurber; and a new foreword by John Updike.

A Thurber world of kings and princes and enchanted deer, of wizards and dwarfs, of false love and true; a fairy tale for grownups.

Gorgeously illustrated and including two gatefolds that give us a panoramic jungle at war, The Tiger Who Would Be King is as entertaining as it is wise, as wry as it is passionate. Yoon''s humorous images support this beautifully written text with wit and insight. Her final portrait of the tiger in a sea of silence will stay with the reader for a long, long time. JooHee Yoon is an illustrator and printmaker. She strives to create picture books that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. James Thurber joined the staff of the New Yorker in 1927. His contributions to that magazine, both as a writer and an artist, were instrumental in changing the character of American humor.

Quillow, a tiny toymaker, defeats a ferocious giant named Hunder and saves his town from destruction.

The first book of prose published by either James Thurber or E. B. White, Is Sex Necessary? combines the humor and genius of both authors to examine those great mysteries of life -- romance, love, and marriage. A masterpiece of drollery, this 75th Anniversary Edition stands the test of time with its sidesplitting spoof of men, women, and psychologists; more than fifty funny illustrations by Thurber; and a new foreword by John Updike.