Topper

by Thorne Smith

Overview

"[Thorne Smith] created the modern American ghost. A ghost with style and wit. A ghost that haunts us still."
—The New York Times

Thorne Smith is a master of urbane wit and sophisticated repartee. Topper, his best-known work, is the hilarious, ribald comedy on which the hit television show and movie (starring Cary Grant) were based.

It all begins when Cosmo Topper, a law-abiding, mild-mannered bank manager, decides to buy a secondhand car, only to find it haunted by the ghosts of its previous owners—the reckless, feckless, frivolous couple who met their untimely demise when the car careened into an oak tree. The ghosts, George and Marion Kerby, make it their mission to rescue Topper from the drab "summer of suburban Sundays" that is his life—and they commence a series of madcap adventures that leave Topper, and anyone else who crosses their path, in a whirlwind of discomfiture and delight.

As enchanting today as it was when first published in 1926, Topper has set the standard in American pop culture for such mischievous apparitions as those seen in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Heaven Can Wait, Beetlejuice, and Bewitched.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504073233
Publisher:	Open Road Media
Publication date:	01/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	455
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Thorne Smith was an American writer of humorous supernatural fantasy fiction. He is best known for his two Topper novels, which are racy comic fantasies involving much drinking and ghosts. He penned twenty-six literary works in a span of seventeen years, including nine fantasy novels, a volume of poetry, a children’s book, and two screenplays. He was also a talented copywriter and spent time writing for the New Yorker, as well as a short stint writing for MGM in Hollywood.

Editorial Reviews

[Thorne Smith] created the modern American ghost. A ghost with style and wit. A ghost that haunts us still.”

New York Times

Barrett Whitener successfully brings the varied characters to life, from petulant and whiny Topper to sophisticated Marion. Whitener carefully paints the desolate landscape of Topper’s life, while hinting at the sensuality of Marion, and the sexual tension between the two. This is a delightful, thought-provoking read.”

AudioFile

Judging from his books, all Thorne Smith wanted was a little fun—no, a lot of fun, more that might be possible on earth.”

author Carolyn See

The listener with happy childhood memories of both the well-known film (starring Cary Grant) and the early TV show will enjoy hearing the original story of Topper, a man whose world is thrown into confusion by two frivolous, high-society ghosts. Barrett Whitener successfully brings the varied characters to life, from petulant and whiny Topper, to sophisticated Marion. And his George Kerby perfectly fits my image of this debonair and charming character. The supporting characters are well drawn; they include stereotypical police, a self-important judge, and the long suffering Mrs. Topper. Whitener carefully paints the desolate landscape of Topper's life, while hinting at the sensuality of Marion, and the sexual tension between the two. This is a delightful, thought-provoking read. W.L.S. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

DEC/JAN 02 - AudioFile