Thorne Smith
	The Bishop's Jaegers

First published in the USA by Doubleday, Doran, November 1932. Pocket Book paperback September 1945. First published in Britain by Methuen (1939 hardback), and by Penguin (1960 paperback).

One of the most popular comic authors of the late 1920s and early 1930s, Thorne Smith wrote a dozen novels which are apparently variations on a theme. Since this theme involves an "attractive, intelligent and resourceful" heroine in pursuit of a slightly bemused hero, in a somewhat unrealistic setting and plot, they were perhaps particularly attractive during the Great Depression. Thorne Smith novels provided the basis for five Hollywood films, and he still has a loyal readership today.

Despite the absence of any dictionary entry that I can discover, Thorne Smith (and many of his characters) clearly believe that "jaegers" is a well-known term for long-johns. Those of the title adorn Bishop Waller, one of a disparate (and eventually desparate) band of New Yorkers. The comedy (farce?) of manners takes a little while to establish these characters and create the situation which brings them together. Suffice to say that the three men and three women end up locked inside a nudist colony. The inhabitants of this private fiefdom, complete with servants (readily available in the depression, and obliged to comply with the ban on clothing), have no visible means of support, yet live very well. And that is part of the point, since this is not a group of back-to-basics naturists, not even a collection of mens sana in corpore sano alternative-lifestyle health fanatics. Dear me no, that would offer far too few opportunities for comedy! Led by the obviously wealthy Mr Jones, these happy folk take a premise of naturism and stretch and distort it into an astonishingly novel arrangement. The idea is that clothing is far too titillating, so nobody in (clothed) life gets anything done, being distracted by lust whenever a member of the opposite sex is around. By shedding one's garments, one sheds carnal urges - although this doesn't seem to lead to anything much being done or achieved by the nuddies. But man and woman are not meant to live permanently without lust. Every so often the group get dressed and allow their sexual energies full rein. Meanwhile, anyone wearing anything is proclaiming themselves open to sexual harrassment. Somehow or other both the Bishop (who retains his jaegers), and one of the women (who would rather die than shed a single item of her haute-couture outfit) remain mostly unmolested. But with an orgy in prospect, all bar one of the group make their escape. After a final bout of Benny Hill-style chases and nonsense, the story is brought to a suitably happy ending. Even the duck (don't ask), who is called Havelock Ellis (I told you not to ask!) lives happily ever after.

One present day reviewer regards Smith's work as "fantasy", taking care to show that they mean something lighter and more frivolous than would normally be understood by the term when applied to modern fiction. Approach the story with a rather greater than usual suspension of disbelief, read it for entertainment, chuckles and smiles, not for any significant exploration of the human condition. That way you should enjoy it. But don't expect anything particularly interesting about naturism, other than the idea that nudity is a most effective anaphrodisiac. Try a sample or two.

If you want to buy a second-hand copy of this book, I strongly recommend seeking out an American edition. The British hardback is very rare, and the Penguin paperback is missing Herbert Roese's delightful illustrations. These are retained in the US Pocket Book paperback.

Ratings:

Nudity	Naturist nudity	A good read?

More information on Thorne Smith and his books on Haunts and By-Paths and in Random House's Modern Library.

"Jaegers" - a footnote.

Channel 5's predeliction for titillating documentaries proves useful! In the course of a documentary about underwear (by turns intriguing and irritating, informative and irrelevant) I learned that the German industrialist Count Jaeger - presumably he founded the company whose balls of wool were made into many of my childhood jumpers and cardigans - invented the all-in-one combination male undergarment. Better known by names such as "woolly coms", these are often on show in mid-twentieth century English farces, where they combine (!) a clear message that the character is almost undressed with an avoidance of display of bare flesh. In other words, acceptable English sauciness from an era a little before Channel 5 with its careful camera angles.

The Glorious Pool

First published in the USA by Doubleday, Doran, December 1934. Pocket Book paperback September 1946.

Rex Pebble is a happily married man - and has been for almost thirty years. Not long after his marriage, Spray Summers became his mistress, and was duly set up in an establishment of her own. Rex shuttles between the two households as the mood takes him (or as the women's moods drive him). Fortunately, Rex is wealthy enough for both houses to be large, with extensive grounds. Spray's garden includes a substantial ornamental pool, with a nymph, dubbed Baggage, on a pedestal at its centre. One evening, Baggage decides she has had enough of spectating, and leaves her pedestal to experience life (particularly sex) for herself. Her passage through the pool gives its waters the miraculous property of taking away twenty five years from anyone who goes for a dip.

Spray and Rex soon discover this magical effect, and rejoice in their recovered youthfulness - and the lust which accompanies it. Such a situation is nowhere near complex enough for Thorne Smith. Rapidly, he adds a French maid, an elderly bloodhound with no sense of smell, a Japanese butler and a full crew of firemen. Other characters come and go, or are encountered, including Rex's wife Sue. Enormous quantities of alcohol are consumed, much clothing is discarded, and the company proceed to wreak mayhem and havoc around the neighbourhood.

Throughout, Thorne Smith keeps the banter running at full pelt. This is just as well, as otherwise the tale would collapse under the weight of its absurdity. As with most of his output, this is light-hearted froth, intended purely for entertainment (and some frank titillation). There's a bit of nudity - and a lot of running around clad only in a loose towel, an unbuttoned fireman's cape or barely-there panties, so plenty of flesh is displayed. This is shown clearly in the extracts, which include both text and some of Herbert Roese's illustrations. At several points I was reminded of early 1960s Brian Rix stage farces as broadcast by the BBC, with the important distinction that most of Thorne Smith's characters have no interest in double-entendres.

Last updated 2004 September 6.
 
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Other content Copyright © author Tim Forcer

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