The Jenguin Pennings

by Paul Jennings

Genres: Humor, Fiction

207 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Jennings served in the Royal Signals during the Second World War. In 1943 his piece "Moses was a Sanitary Officer" was published in Lilliput magazine. Freelance work for Punch and The Spectator soon followed. Leaving the army with the rank of Lieutenant, he briefly worked as a scriptwriter for the Central Office of Information and then spent two years as an advertising copywriter; throughout this period his freelance work continued to be published.

In 1949 he joined The Observer, contributing a fortnightly column entitled "Oddly Enough" until 1966. After leaving The Observer, he continued to write until his death, mainly seeing print in Punch, The Times and the Telegraph magazine.

Reviews

[Jerry Goodenough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads seems to think this is the Paul Jennings who is an Australian short-story writer. No, it is the English Paul Jennings, the one who started publishing humorous articles in "The Observer" back about 1950. This is an excellent selection from his earlier collections, and includes 'Report on Resistentialism', one of the classics of philosophical humour.

[Shirley Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had this 1963 edition for quite some years and only now got around to it. I had not heard of Paul Jennings but the blurb at the front advised he had been a pupil of one of two local boys' schools in Coventry and I went to one of the brace of girls' so I felt an affinity.
These are short rambles and some stand the test of time very well indeed. I particularly liked his cynical take on the guide to operating a motor mower and the notions he has on the types one meets at parties. It does seem dated of course and remarks that reveal women doctors to be a rarity demonstrate how far we have progressed. Overall I read on despite the occasional dull interlude and award my three stars.

[Thomas Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pulpy, dated, sometimes enjoyable, but not a lot of wit in a lot of the articles.
Jennings is clearly an Ian Hislop character, I don't have a subscription to Private Eye for a reason, much less Punch.

[Judie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. My big brother (who has a lot of answer for) lent it me in the '70s when I was a child and I found it funny then and still do now. Paul Jennings was erudite, clever, very witty and a decent tenor in the Philharmonia Chorus in the 80s to boot. The flights of fancy from a slight phrase or thought are brilliant. The reference to Wind in the Willows in, I think, Flautists Flaunt Afflatus is a perfect example of pathos and beauty that still brings a tear to my eye. Complaining at the tearooms and the waitress agreeing (to his chagrin) "Oh dear, no, it's not very nice, is it" brings a lovely diversion into the waitress's possibly disappointing day. Get a second hand copy and share it around!