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Count Bruga
The blurb on the 1929 edition of Count Bruga states:
COUNT BRUGA as a novel is as insensitive as a hangman, as vain as a monkey and as absurd as Sinbad. It recites what is intended to be the unreal and ironical history of a preposterous creature called Count Hippolyt Bruga. You will find it full of murders, terse seductions, amiable magicians, poets, fair though somewhat idiotic Ladies and a Grand Passion; all of which have been introduced into the narrative with Ben Hecht's customary respect for the noble art of fiction.
S.J. Perelman considered Count Bruga one of the best comic novels ever.
COUNT BRUGA as a novel is as insensitive as a hangman, as vain as a monkey and as absurd as Sinbad. It recites what is intended to be the unreal and ironical history of a preposterous creature called Count Hippolyt Bruga. You will find it full of murders, terse seductions, amiable magicians, poets, fair though somewhat idiotic Ladies and a Grand Passion; all of which have been introduced into the narrative with Ben Hecht's customary respect for the noble art of fiction.
S.J. Perelman considered Count Bruga one of the best comic novels ever.
- GenresHumor
Paperback
First published January 1, 1926
26 people want to read
About the author
Ben Hecht
207 books55 followersBen Hecht, an American, wrote short stories, novels, such as
Erik Dorn
in 1921, dramas, including
The Front Page
in 1928 with Charles MacArthur, and screenplays, such as
Gunga Din
in 1938.
Ben Hecht, a journalist, directed and produced movies. A journalist in his youth, he went to 35 books and entertained most people. He received credits alone or in collaboration for seventy films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hecht
Ben Hecht, a journalist, directed and produced movies. A journalist in his youth, he went to 35 books and entertained most people. He received credits alone or in collaboration for seventy films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hecht
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 3, 2024
Written in 1926 by Ben Hecht, this book is a mystery, a comedy of errors, with a main character who is insensitive, vain, outrageously rude and just not nice or behaved in public. He goes by the name of Count Hippolyt Bruga. He isn’t royalty or has any ties to royalty. He was a poet, with no money, who created the persona of Count Bruga to allow him to travel among the rich and famous.
Along the way, Bruga meets and falls in love with Amelia, a magician’s assistant. He becomes obsessed with her and courts her nightly after each show, until she suddenly disappears. The magician has closed the show and doesn’t know where she’s gone.
Shortly later, the magician turns up dead and an investigation starts. A number of people become suspects in the eyes of the police. Meanwhile Bruga is searching for Amelia.
The book reads like a movie from the 1930-40 era, with an assortment of characters that add to the ‘comedy of errors’ style. Are the mysteries of the magician and his assistant solved? Does Bruga make an impression of the rich and famous? Read and find out.
Along the way, Bruga meets and falls in love with Amelia, a magician’s assistant. He becomes obsessed with her and courts her nightly after each show, until she suddenly disappears. The magician has closed the show and doesn’t know where she’s gone.
Shortly later, the magician turns up dead and an investigation starts. A number of people become suspects in the eyes of the police. Meanwhile Bruga is searching for Amelia.
The book reads like a movie from the 1930-40 era, with an assortment of characters that add to the ‘comedy of errors’ style. Are the mysteries of the magician and his assistant solved? Does Bruga make an impression of the rich and famous? Read and find out.
Displaying 1 of 1 review