The Benchley Roundup

by Robert Benchley, Nathaniel G. Benchley (Introduction), Robert Benchley

Robert C. Benchley's sketches and articles, published in periodicals like Life , Vanity Fair , and The New Yorker , earned him a reputation as one of the sharpest humorists of his time; his influence—on contemporaries such as E. B. White, James Thurber, and S. J. Perelman, or followers like Woody Allen, Steve Martin, and Richard Pryor—has left an indelible mark on the American comic tradition. The Benchley Roundup collects those pieces, selected by Benchley's son Nathaniel, "which seem to stand up best over the years"-a compendium of the most endearing and enduring work from one of America's funniest and most penetrating wits.

"It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by then I was too famous."
—Robert Benchley

Genres: Humor, Essays, Fiction, Short Stories, Comedy, American, Classics

345 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Works, including How to Sleep , the film of 1935, and My Ten Years in a Quandary , the book of 1936, of Robert Charles Benchley, humorist, critic, and actor, often pitted an average American against the complexities of modern life.

People best knew Robert Charles Benchley as a newspaper columnist. He began at the Lampoon and meanwhile attended Harvard University and wrote many essays and articles for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker.
From New York City and his peers at the Algonquin Round Table, short style brought acclaim, respect, and success to Benchley to contemporaries in the burgeoning industry.

Benchley contributed best remembered influential topical or absurdist essays to The New Yorker. He also made a name in Hollywood, when his popular success won best short subject at the academy awards of 1935, and his many memorable appearances in such as Foreign Correspondent of Alfred Joseph Hitchcock and a dramatic turn in Nice Girl? . He wrote his legacy in numerous short appearances.

Reviews

[LeahBethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a list of the top ten funniest books a few years ago and The Benchley RoundUp made the list. I thought it was a novel but after reading the forward by the author's son, I realized it was a collection of articles that Mr. Benchley had written in the early 20th century. The son encourages the reader to just imbibe a few articles at a time so for the past three months I've been reading a few articles here and there. So many things have changed in the world in the past 100 years and some of the articles are very dated but I was amazed at how many things haven't changed and that the humor transcends time. If you ever find a copy, it wouldn't be a bad investment...

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several months ago, I discovered that Nathaniel Benchley (author of a Ghost Called Fred and Sam the Minuteman) was indeed the son of Robert Benchley. I also discovered that he put together a collection of his father's essays. And I also bought that collection and began reading it.

The Foreword of this book serves as a forewarning -- Do not read this book all at once. Parcel it out and read it in between other books and it works rather like a sorbet.

Some of the essays are dated, which is not really a surprise considering he lived in an era when men did wear bowler hats and not ironically. Other essays are timeless. All are very funny. Benchley, compared to Dorothy Parker, has a gentle wit. His wit is every bit as sharp as Parker's, but the subject of the wit will laugh as well as the audience.

If these essays were written today, I would not rate the book so high, but I am rating it for its time.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benchley is so Benchley. I'd forgotten just how funny he was. My Mom and I used to read his essays to each other when I was a child. We were great fans.

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book of short stories/articles first published in 1933! I heard about this book in Real Simple magazine. What a bonus.

[Brenda Cregor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh Bob.
This book contains many experiences as seen through the eyes of Robert Benchley.
They were written at the turn of the last century, and thus, are a precious time capsule,
a peek at a bygone era.
There were some observations by the author which made me GLAD it's a bygone era,
and others which made me quite wistful for a time where people interacted enough with people, in REAL life, not virtually, enough to get irritated with REALITY, and not just words written in boxes on a web-page.
Since I enjoyed about 2/5 of the stories, it stands to reason that I would appoint 2 out of 5 stars for this bit of Americana.
This being said it's a book which will take prominence on my bookshelf as the 2-3 page stories that I DID like will be shared with loved ones in years to come because, sometimes, I just like to have a good belly laugh.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reprint of the collection selected by his son, this contains some of his best short pieces as well as a few that don't quite hit the mark.

Still, so much of it after decades is still laugh-out-loud funny that it's most definitely worth a read. As someone who appreciates a finely-tuned sense of the ridiculous, Benchley more than satisfies with his arch observations of human behavior. Certainly worthwhile even just for "The Menace of Buttered Toast," this collection has earned its permanent spot next to The Portable Dorothy Parker, of which I am sure both parties would approve.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathaniel Benchley does seem to have made a good job selecting the pieces here, there's not much dead weight. It's certainly more consistent than the other Benchley collections I've read.
Although I did enjoy the pieces in this book they are nearly all pleasant, it's just that there is nothing here that I would consider brilliant
Benchley in my opinion comes over better in the films he made especially the short subjects.

[Derek Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's perhaps unfair to rate this only 3 stars, but I'm setting it against 5-star Benchley collections such as "My Ten Years n a Quandary and How they Grew." Probably son Nathaniel liked some of these stories because Poppa Bob set Nate on his knee to read them to him. Thing is, several of Bob's best are here--and some of his absolute worst juvenalia. I've loved Benchley since I was 10 years old. All I can say is, find another collection.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pieces here can range from genuinely hilarious to so-so - I think Benchley was at his best in an essay, I was much less impressed with his parodies of stories. Still, the best parts were good enough to rate the four stars.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing that a grown man can be so silly. A template for Dave Barry, as Barry is always quick to point out.

[Susan]

Colchester Library Book Sale June 2012

[Jake Berlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

quite amusing at times, but uneven (what collection of nearly 90 different pieces wouldn't be?) and often dated (comedy doesn't age particularly well, although you can still appreciate the wit)

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humor is dated, but a great book for people who like this sort of thing.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid collection of Benchley's greatest hits.

[Steve Gutin]

Funniest stuff I've ever read. Only works if you like 100-year-old humor.

[Allan MacDonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Benchley was one of those New Yorker writers pumping out wit and vitriol in the same era Dorothy Parker and James Thurber were parceling barbed light humor at that magazine, packaged in with S. J. Perelman’s precision-cut satire. Their jobs seemed to be to react to the manners and mannerisms of the moment and chat it out, in effect inventing the hot take. Unless you are a decade older than even me, these writers all died long before you were born. In strict reality, The Benchley Roundup’s hot takes, many expanding to two full pages and beyond, are lifted from cold storage, like scraps of leftovers from a deep freezer. Strict reality, of course, never stood a chance against old Benchley one hundred years ago, and strict reality’s odds are no better today.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in what flavor of funny this early 20th-century humorist would have. Sadly, I could never find a way to connect, or discern any missing-to-me cultural contexts that would illuminate the singular wittiness of Mr Benchley, as much as James Thurber and others praised his sharp intellect and keen humoristic instinct. It left me feeling like I am either too far removed from the cultural context, or simply not the sharpest tool in the shed.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, light read. I liked his writing style.

[Suzi Brock · Rating 1 out of 5]

A chuckle or two but I really don't get his humor. Glad it's over!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some funny, some snoozy, but mostly snoozy.

[Tom K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Benchley would not be surprised by some of the comments being made here. His career was based on exposing the way a cruel and indifferent universe had it in for him personally. His observations may be dated but the malicious cosmos that gave rise to them is still humming along quite nicely.
This collection is a good sample of his style and wit. Benchley did not have to endure todays assemblage of boors armed with all manner of electronic rudeness. There was an earlier generation of clucks to harass him. He raised his meek voice to protest and made the world laugh.
As one observant observer noted here, you should not try to read Mr. Benchley's work at a sitting. It is indeed more like dessert and should be taken in small bites.
Robert Benchley can't cure the worlds madness but he can help you to see it for what it is and perhaps help you to learn to duck.
One last thing, for my money "Down with Pigeons" is still one of the funniest things I've ever read.

[Paul Klammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents bought this for me many years ago on a summer family vacation when our family of 7 (4 teenagers) was crammed in our station wagon for 2 weeks. I was 14-ish. Seems like it should have not been the least entertaining to me at such a young age, but it was, and it stuck w/me so that I read it 2 or 3 times on other trips. I suspect is dated a bit now, but something by an adult for adults that can leave such a strong impression a 14 year old, still raising a happy memory of enjoyment and escape, has demonstrated it is ageless and likely to be timeless as well. Sadly my copy is long gone in one of my moves.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many mildly clever observations about daily life, not enough of the goofy stuff that made Benchley great - although the immortal "Take the Witness" is here, along with "The Menace of Buttered Toast," in which he parodies "a typical Benchley piece." "There were six of us there (five, counting the Captain.)"

[Patti · Rating 1 out of 5]

Our bookclub agreed that a reissuing of the book with historical and social context might make all the difference.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very funny pieces. A series of columns written by Robert Benchley in 1920's and 30's. Most of them are still applicable to today's situations.

[Ebookwormy1]

"Uncle Edith's Ghost Story" is Carp-500

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellis.