Count Bruga

by Ben Hecht

"Count Bruga" is a sharp and biting satirical novel by the celebrated screenwriter and author Ben Hecht. The story centers on the eccentric and often absurd exploits of Count Hippolyt Bruga, a self-styled poet, magician, and decadent charlatan who maneuvers through the bohemian underworld of the 1920s. Through Bruga's grandiose delusions and his complicated romantic and social entanglements, Hecht provides a masterful skewering of the literary elite and the pretenses of urban intellectual circles.

Blending elements of farce, mystery, and surreal humor, the work serves as a vivid portrait of a man who is as much a fraud as he is a compelling figure of his time. "Count Bruga" captures the cynical charm and vibrant energy of early 20th-century American life, showcasing Hecht's signature wit and his keen ability to dissect the human ego. This novel remains an essential read for those interested in the history of American satire and the colorful characters that defined the Jazz Age literary landscape.

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Genres: Humor

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Ben 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

Reviews

[Chazzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.