The Road to Miltown: Or Under the Spreading Atrophy

by S.J. Perelman

The Road to Or Under the Spreading Atrophy is a humorous and satirical novel written by Sidney Joseph Perelman. The book follows the misadventures of a young man named Alexander Hero, who sets out on a journey to the fictional town of Miltown in search of a cure for his father's mysterious illness. Along the way, Alexander encounters a cast of eccentric characters, including a mad scientist, a group of militant vegetarians, and a band of traveling actors. The book is filled with witty wordplay, absurd situations, and biting social commentary. Through Alexander's experiences, Perelman explores themes of conformity, consumerism, and the dehumanizing effects of modern society. The novel is set in the early 20th century and reflects the cultural and political climate of the time. Overall, The Road to Miltown is a clever and entertaining work of satire that offers a unique perspective on the human condition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction

284 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2012

About the author

Sidney Joseph Perelman, almost always known as S. J. Perelman, was a Jewish-American humorist, author, and screenwriter. He is best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for The New Yorker. He also wrote for several other magazines, as well as books, scripts, and screenplays.

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel terrible saying I didn't really "get" this humor? I feel like I must be getting old. But on the other hand it's also like being very young and understanding the form of the joke but not getting the references. Also, I'm currently living in a time when appreciating the film era he spends half the essays criticizing is the more sophisticated thing to do so the withering dyspepsia over Rudolph Valentino plots not making any sense isn't going to be very satisfying to me.

[Andreakuieck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to have this guy and Erma Bombeck over for coffee.

[Sparrow .]

Like a Colt 45 polished to a piercing, deliberate, eye-slicing silvery glint, Perelman's prose stupefies the literary sissy. He's the Faulkner of funniness. (These pieces were conceived around the time I was: 1952-1957.) Opening at random:

"When I eventually got my bearings, the establishment proved to be a fly-by-nine laboratory styling itself La Pulchrituda Lotions, operated by two grifters named Victor Spatula and Morty Krisp. They were both sallow, ulcerous dwarfs, treacherous as quicksand, ever on the qui vive to fleece the public and each other."

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

To everything there is a season.
S. J. Perelman was famously a screenwriter for the Marx Brothers and other comics of their day. Neither sophisticated nor brilliant, his success came from cleverly disguised insults at the expense of his less witted victims.
In his day this was a kind of brilliance. Sadly, his progress stumbled over his oversized ego.
Publishers eager to cash in on the Perelman fame sent this and other books to print unedited. The results were mixed at best.
This book is no longer in season.