That one man could be at once this melancholy and this hilarious is much of Smith's genious. If not for the gut-splitting humor he would be down-right depressing...but boy, is he not! This is theatre of the absurd at its best. Be prepared to laugh uncontrollably and make a total fool of yourself (if anyone can see you).Thorne Smith was the "racey" writter of my father's youth and my "sibs" and I learned the value of a good laugh at dad's knee.Thorne Smith is the best, I search for more.

Mr. T. Lawrence Lamb had a wife, a daughter, and a commutation ticket. He worked hard, looked at women on trains and did nothing about it, suffered his wife to play about platonically (he thought) with a Mr. Leonard Gray, who was interested in amateur theatricals. Mr. Lamb was, in a word, the Great American Commuter. That was before he met the russett man in the woods, and woke up one morning to find himself a handsome balck stallion, practically free from his wife and the world. It interfered with his business and social life, but Mr. Lamb didn't particularly mind that - and there were compensations. After that Mr. Lamb became in succession a good many different kinds of creature, all of which helped to give him a new viewpoint on the world - as for instance: a sea-gull, watching the beautiful Sandra in her less public moments. "The Stray Lamb" is a hilarious book, a gay, ribald, knowing book, with a deep strain of wisdom and humanity flowing beneath the brilliance of the story.

Wilbur Smith is my favorite author, and "A Falcon Flies" is one of his best. You are introduced to the Ballentyne's, Maj. Zouga Ballentyne and his sister, Dr. Robin Ballentyne as they search Africa for their missing father, the famous missonary and anti-slavery cruscader Fuller Ballentyne and have the bad luck to travel to Africa on board the ship of Mungo St.John, who it turns out, is a infamous slave trader himself...With that breathless start, you would expect action and lots of it, and you won't be disappointed. Duels, attack by slave traders on the Ballentyne safari, and ship to ship battles with thundering broadsides are but some of what is in store for the reader. Smith has never been afraid to write a strong woman character, and Robin Ballentyne certainly qualifes, coming close to unsympathic, being saved mainly by her constant concern for human life, never hestiating to place her own in jepoardy to help the ill or injured, but always sure of being right and never hestiating to say so. Neither is Zouga perfect, being more concerned with making the expedition profitable,from gold and ivory, than finding his father.All of Wilbur Smith's books are of the "keep you up late reading it" variety but "Falcon" is ones of his best, which makes it one of THE best, period.....

I must say as a fan of Wilbur Smith, this book captures anyone's imagination from the first page to the last and it leaves you wanting to start on the next one in the series. As an African and Zimbabwean in which most of this story takes place I am left with no option but to salute Mr. Smith. He is a briliant researcher and an accurate writer of our historical stories even though he calls them fiction. Some of the facts are so true that you really feel you're in that age. He gives vivid descriptions of the Ndebele state as if he was there during that time. I have no problem rating it 5 out of 5!!!

I am a 49 year old man who has recently taken up reading after an absence of too many years. I have found that Wilbur Smith's books have filled the void of recent changes in my lifestyle. Although I started with Angry as The Sea some ten years ago, I cannot read Mr. Smith's novels quickly enough. Each thought or phrase summons me into it's very existance. My only regret is that memory will not allow me the pleasure of re-visiting Mr. Smith's adventures.

Thorne Smith's fantasy of Cosmo Topper and ghostly George and Marion Kerby is more thought provoking than one might expect. Although rich with humor, the story has pensive undertones. The story is of Topper's rebellion against his dull life and marriage. After the wild and crazy Kerby's perish in a road accident, middle-aged Topper buys their repaired sporty automobile. He discovers their ghostly presence, and joins the playful spirits in a road trip that takes up much of the novel. His flirtation with the delectable Marion Kerby may have seemed racy 'way back when, but it is mild stuff today. George Kerby is absent for part of the story. While George is away, Topper and Marion play, mostly at Marion's instigation. The snickering references to drinking, ladies lingerie, and compromising positions offers amusement. One needs to understand the old term "step-ins." Typical of the TV and movie versions, Topper deals with a number of awkward situations when ghostly happenings occur before bewildered onlookers. This evokes chuckles, but there is more of yearning in the book than laugh-out-loud comedy. This book is a beguiling relic of the 1920s. It's worth a look. To enhance your appreciation of the book, avoid the pitfall of preconceived notions based on the films and TV versions. Multiple readings are recommended. ;-)

Who hasn't fallen in love with a ghost at least once in their life?

Topper is absolutely delightful. While in some ways it was considered scandalous at the time, it certainly seems innocent today. It has a lightness and freshness lacking in his later works. Some contemporary readers may be unused to fiction that lacks violence and overt sex, but the appeal of this story is Cosmo's mid-life crisis and its sucessful resolution with the supernatural assistance of a carful of hard-drinking, carefree spirits.

Whoever coined the phrase 'witty repartee' probably had this book in mind. It's a fun read that kept me entertained all the way from Seattle to Virginia.

One word of advice before you start. Smith uses an interesting motif in this book over and over again. Keep your eyes open for it.

Topper is the delightfully riotious story of a staid, quietly frustrated banker who buys a fancy sports car haunted by it's previous owners, who died when they crashed it on their way home from a party. Since death did NOT part them, the two gang up on poor "Toppy", turning a good man bad the right way. He learns to drink to excess, lie to his wife, and blow his staid, "pillar of the community" reputation all to hell. Thorne Smith creates delightful characters with great depth and longing, and writes about them in a witty, incredibly insightful, and downright hilarious fashion. I've read all his books, and recommend them all highly, with "Night Life of the Gods" being my all-time favorite book. When you read Thorne Smith, you WILL laugh out loud! I highly recommend "Topper" to anyone who enjoys a good laugh, and a flock of cocktails!

A businessman, his fiancee, his secretary, a thief and a bishop leave a ferry lost in a fog, and find themselves at a nudist colony, where they are forced to remain. The usual Thorne Smith zaniness, with the occasional caustic comment on society.

This is a truly wonderful, but little known sex-comedy, by Thorne Smith who brought us "Topper". Written in 1932, it deals with a young man named Peter Van Dyck, who has recently inherited his father's coffee business and is engaged to beautiful socialite Yolanda Wilmont. Peter's secretary Josephine Duvall is in love with Peter, and makes the most of every oportunity to attract him, mostly by showing off her sexy legs while taking a couple of letters. Josephine tells Peter that the stuffy Yolanda is entirely unsuitable for him, and that he needs someone to mold him into the kind of man who can successfully run a business (i.e., Josephine). Peter rebuffs her advances, but all the while finds himself getting turned on by his cheeky secretary. When the ferry they are taking gets lost in the fog, Peter, Yoland, Josephine, and a few other peripheral characters (including the Bishop of the title) set out in a small boat hoping to get to shore before the ferry. When they alight, they discover they are in a nudist colony, where all persons are forced to strip and go naked--all except Yolanda, for whom an exception is made. Being naked causes the characters to see themselves and others differently, especially Yolanda, who has an epiphany when she finally decides to disrobe.

Smith's prose is fast-moving and enjoyable, and his plots and dialogue are laugh-out-loud funny. This is my favorite of all his books.

A number of years ago, when I was in acting school, a classmate of mine and I adapted Chapter Three into a scene to perform for a show my school put on. It was a big success, and I have long thought this book was theatrical enough to be easily transformed into a movie or play, except for the second half which takes place in the nudist colony. How could you present this with everyone totally naked? I recently read that "The Bishop's Jaegers" is on its was to becoming a motion picture, so I am eager to see what they do about this.

Thorne Smith is always a treat. The Bishop's Jaegers is my personal favorite of his works. Characters like "Aspirin Liz" and the little pickpocket make the book more personable. The plot involves a group of Ferry boat passengers stranded on a nudist colony. The pickpocket finds nudity unrewarding, the Bishop (in his Jaegers) finds it disconcerting. The reader finds it very amusing.

Maybe it isn't fair to compare this to Smith's most popular work, but if I'd read this one first, I don't think I'd have picked up another one. It lacks the charm and innocence of Topper. Hawk is more cynical and world-weary than Cosmo. Nightlife is more daring, yet less effective. It has a mean edge to it that isn't evident in Topper. This book strains for profundity and poignancy, not succeeding until the last page.

I was about 13 years old when I discovered this book. It had been left with others on the third floor of our home. They belonged to an Uncle who was overseas during WWII. Had my parents been aware of just what I was reading, I am sure they would have confiscated the book. I was well into my 20's when I 're-discovered' Night Life of the Gods, among other Thorn Smith books, and read them again without the little girl giggles. We still laugh aloud over the delicious romps of Smith's characters. The tales are timeless and still a lot of fun. Not the least bit significant of anything; a leap from so much seriousness in print today. Read, laugh and enjoy a fine humorist.

Thorne Smith should be hailed as one the greatest writers of the 20th Century. I never heard about him from any of my teachers in high school or college. It took a great friend of mine to give me her copy of Nightlife of the Gods to get me started. And I thank her all the time for it.

This book is absolutely incredible in the amount of hilarity it contains. I just can't write enough about this book, as of many of his other books that are out of print....Rain in the Doorway chief among them. But anyways, buy this book for your funny bone's sake and you will not got home angry. Rest, Relax, Read, Enjoy. This book is worth every cent you pay for it.

Even for those who were not born in Africa could smell the scent of it in the air, feel the deep passion Wilbur has toward his homeland, and the wildlife that he always loved. This book and another masterpiece of Smith's work: Elephant Song, are both among my favorites.

This has been one of the closest accounts as to how life was in Zimbabwe. It says alot more to the reader if you read between the lines, especially if you have lived there. It is such a pity that the book was banned in our country, obviously too close to the truth on certain issues.

Once again, Wilbur Smith shows his amazing gift.

Incredible!!!! I loved the book. It has great suspences and it keeps you reading at all times.

This follow-up to the highly successful TOPPER - which was made earlier that year (1939) - picks up where the last film left off. After reestablishing the auto accident which killed the drunken Bennett and Grant in the first film and turned them into ghosts, we are treated (sans Cary Grant) to a hilarious 85 minutes. Clara Topper (Burke) spots Marion Kirby (Bennett) in her husband Cosmo's room. Clara goes to Paris - with Cosmo following - in order to get a divorce because she believes her hen-pecked husband has been seeing another "woman". Unable to explain to Clara that Marion is only a ghost, Cosmo tries to fast-talk Burke into a reconciliaton. Several floating martinis later, Bennett manages to reconcile the couple, and is now able to join her husband in their celestial home. The trick photography by Roy Seawright is astonishing for its day. Cushions which deflate when invisible figures sit on them, cigarettes being smoked in mid-air and pencils writing notes by themselves are all executed with great skill. The sight of the Kirby's dog Skippy - also a ghost - is hilarious when only his tail fails to become invisible or when he bites the ankles of totally flabbergasted men! A third film, TOPPER RETURNS is a surprisingly pleasant diversion from 1941: it stars Joan Blondell as Marion Kirby.

Topper movies have been some of the best clean cut comedy ever. These are the types of movies you can watch over and over and still continue to laugh. More comedy movies of today should be made this way. I know there are "Topper" lovers as myself and would enjoy being able to see them on the American Movie Classic channel or just on regular tv from time to time. The only move I own is Topper Returns and would love to have these others. I grew up watching these movies and will continue to watch them. Please bring them back.

it would do all of us good if more movies were being made today that can make us laugh just by it being funny not by it being an effort to hurt or humiliate a person place or thing. maybe someone someday will look again at these old classics and see how refreshing it was to be entertained not by seeing people or places blowing up or being destroyd but just being allowed to sit back relax and enjoy the fact that what your watching can entertain you your grandmother and your kids all at the same time.

babe is a faboulous story of a pig. It's very cute.The animals speak, so we can understood there.It's not difficult to read and not very long.Sometimes it's funny,so I enjoy this book.

Babe the sheep-pig .He is very nice story . Like it's book because he is very funny .Babe big heart .He is don't stupid. This is beautiful story animals. It is good story. Beceause It's short and it is very funny. Very good!

This book is very funny interesting and touching .(for the little kids).

im an avid wilbur smith fan and i have read all his books, starting ten years ago. due to lack of availability, i have had to acquire many of them out of country, including canada, britain, the far east, and south africa, where i started reading them. it seems like wilbur only became popular in the US with river god. I consider a sparrow falls to be his weakest book. after reading a number of books on south african history, fictionalized or not, i find a sparrow falls to be much fiction, little history, as opposed to lion feeds and sound of thunder. its like this story was made only to finish off the series and tie up the loose ends. my favorite of his novels were the next five courtneys and elephant song. of course, anyone interested in the fictionalized history of southern africa, the worlds most fascinating, also has to read the covenant. try robert ruark as well for eastern africa.

A Sparrow Falls is the third of Wilbur Smith's books I've read in the Courtney family series. Each has its own flavor; each one is delightful and hard to put down, but A Sparrow Falls was a real demonstration of a powerful writer taking his readers on a turbulent, tumbling ride on a river of adventure and emotion!

Smith's protagonists draw you in with their magnetic personalities and complicated problems to confront. The antagonists, the crude diabolical bad guys, are truly despicable. In this book, there is a seemingly impossible task in which the "good guys" must preserve a large African land area in its natural state, and to shield the wildlife which has rapidly been disappearing. Sections of the book which deal with the cruel maiming and killing of animals are hard to read, yet you know it has happened and continues today. We witness the bloody mutiny of the Marxist-led strikers, and atrocious deeds committed by greedy, evil people. The ending of the book is rather jarring and sad, and should not be given away in a review, but the ending works, and I closed the book with a "Wow!".

Yet Smith balances these intense scenes with humorous interludes, and equally intense romance and beauty. When he describes the African landscape, the sky, and animals, you are there, standing on a high peak, absorbing a flaming pink sunrise, or squatting down, admiring a tiny and delicate sunbird flitting among the flowers.

The Courtney family books, though written in the '70s and '80s are as appealing as any recently written adventure stories...they are timeless. I am eager to get my hands on any other books written by Wilbur Smith!

I've read about 20 of Wilbur Smith's books and this one is my favorite. The characters, the history, the wildlife descriptions, and the occasional humor combine to make this book unforgetable.