Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich

by Stephen Leacock

Of the many books by Canada’s most celebrated humorist, none has received more acclaim than his brilliant, caustic treatment of the glittering rich who gather at the Mausoleum Club on Plutoria Avenue.

Today, Leacock’s pointed satire of the privileged class, and their social abuses and pretences, retains every ounce of its freshness and bite. An undisputed comic masterpiece, Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich reveals a depth of compassionate criticism rare in Leacock’s writings.

Genres: Humor, Fiction, Short Stories, Satire, Canada, Canadian Literature, Classics

211 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1914

About the author

Stephen P. H. Butler Leacock, FRSC, was a Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist. Between the years 1915 and 1925, he was the best-known English-speaking humorist in the world. He is known for his light humour along with criticisms of people's follies. The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour was named in his honour.

Wikipedia article.

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Leacock isn't tremendously well-known these days, or at least not in the UK, but I have a lot of his books, picked up from a second-hand shop in Eastbourne, all different colours and degrees of batteredness, and I love them. This one is about the excesses of the wealthy elites in the 1910's and although on the surface it's his usual gentle, deadpan, naive humour, it's far more biting and even political than anything else I've ever read by him. The other thing that really stands out is how many of the phenomena he's parodying are just as relevant today as they were back then.

[Hester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple months ago, I went to a talk on the accuracy of university admissions tests given by a visiting professor from Great Britain. The speaker concluded that, with globalization, these tests are becoming less and less accurate, which will lead to ruined lives. I asked whether this conclusion also applied to North America, where there is a safety system of (community) colleges. For those not in the know, community colleges are called 'college' in Canada. People go to 'college' or 'university.' In response, a 'gentleman' gave a short speech, disguised as a question, ranting against for profit education in the States and how only the rich can get an education. I responded that community colleges can be quite affordable; I was researching places in Texas for an extended family member and found a community college that was $500 a semester. My cousin is becoming a certified nurse in Wyoming at $1200 a semester. The ranter turned quite nasty and the man who has an office next to mine asked why on earth that happened. I explained that he was not interested in debating the situation. He just wanted to bash the States.

Stephen Leacock is one of Canada's favorite writers and is unfortunately not well known outside of Canada. Canadians are proud of his gentle humor, displayed most famously in his stories about small town life in Mariposa. In "Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich," the humor is not at all gentle. These ruthlessly mock upper class life in an American, rather than Canadian, city. I find it fishy that his stories about nice small towns are set in his native Canada and that the tales that showcase his rage against economic inequality take place in the US. It smacks of the community college incident.

In spite of this, I quite enjoyed the book, especially its treatment of academia. While it could be quite harsh on academics, I loved the passage where professors ruined a grand dame's salon by bringing accurate knowledge to the party. I also loved the part where the university principal complained about his faculty:"this one is fine in small classes, but hopeless in large ones! This one is excellent in large classes, but hopeless in seminars!" It makes me realize that our problems are nothing new under the sun.

[Jonathan Bogart · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel as may be to Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town and for my money the best Leacock I've ever read. Which is saying something; he's second only to Wodehouse in my pantheon of twentieth-century humorists; but if anthologies are anything to go by he was best known for the parodic short stories of the 1920s -- which are often great, smacking down the pretensions of that literary era, and incidentally featuring much great writing in their own right -- rather than the more socially-aware work he wrote in the 1910s.

Sunshine Sketches has recently been reissued with illustrations by Seth; though I've had multiple copies for years, I haven't read it yet: my understanding is that it's a collection of idyllic, sweet and nostalgic Canadian stories, completely unlike the savage satire of the delusional monstrosities wealthy Americans inflict on the world that Arcadian Adventures contains. Leacock was a professor of political economy at McGill, and his close awareness of the ways that institutions self-perpetuate and the wealthy bend the operation of all things toward their own profit underline everything in this book, even the chapters that are dopier Wodehousian farce: like Twain, it starts as a sort of romp and ends in a sort of cosmic despair.

Published on the eve of World War I, nothing has changed except the outer cultural forms by which the vultures of capital pretend to be human.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1914; Fresh and Pertinent Today

It's really very simple. Take the feel of P.G. Wodehouse. Add an ironic approach to business and finance that rivals A.P. Herbert's treament of the practice of law. Then add a bemused and generous, but razor sharp and always alert, sensibility that fondly but unflinchingly mocks the society and the business and investment practices of wealthy urbanites in 1910-ish America. What you get is this book. This is a remarkable find among the public domain Kindle freebies and worth every bit of effort it took you to find it.

This is as fresh as yesterday's newspaper, and about a million times more perceptive. A wonderful find and an entertaining and instructive read.

[Sharon Ouderkirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rather caustic take on the wealthy, with their illusions and pretensions, could be updated to 2023 without much effort. The chapters are all loosely connected by stories about a continuing group of characters, so it's not a novel, but more like a collection of short humour pieces. The men gather in the Mausoleum club and pronounce their views of the world, and the women indulge in silly fads, such as fake spiritualism ('The Yahi-Bahi Oriental Society of Mrs. Rasselyer-Brown' was my personal favourite story). Leacock had great fun at the expense of the illusions and delusions of the rich, who he apparently viewed as being as likely to be a scam victim as anyone else. They talk themselves into and out of whatever seems to suit their money interests with the greatest of ease, culminating in the final chapter 'The Great Fight for Clean Government' where the main (male) characters decide that they must take over the government to keep it honest. The results lead their community to the same situation with different people getting rich at the expense of the poor people: "So the night waxed and waned till the slow day broke, dimming with its cheap prosaic glare the shaded beauty of the artificial light, and the people of the city - the best of them -drove home to their well-earned sleep, and the others - in the lower parts of the city- rose to their daily toil." The more things change, the more things stay the same. Leacock's style may be dated, but his content remains the subject of the headlines of today's newspapers.

[Carly Svamvour]

December 6th, 2k13 - finished

Hilarious! Yet when you actually think of it, not so funny, really. A perfect example of just how corrupt government, driven by the wheels of the rich and powerful can be.

What amazes me when I read/listen to these old stories is just how identical the situations are to today's political climate.

.......................

After reading Sketches of a Small Town, I am led to listen to this story, which LivraVox is kind enough to provide in audio.

I'm enjoying this writer's work. Up to now, I've only read/heard it in small doses.

This particular story theme holds the reader's attention at any time. It strikes me that it is just as true today as it might have been at the turn of the 20th century.

The rich get richer and stupider.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic Canadian satire, written in 1914, follows the oh-so-awful trials
and tribulations of the "idle rich" of the title who gather at the Mausoleum
Club on Plutoria Avenue. Brilliant at first, mediocre by the middle, boring
at the end. Favourite quote: "It was indeed a singularly trying time of
the year. It was too early to go to Europe, and too late to go to Bermuda.
It was too warm to go south, and yet still too cold to go north. In fact,
one was almost compelled to stay at home -- which was dreadful." (p. 83)
Tut-tut....I know just how they feel....sigh... ;-)

[Harry Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the project Gutenberg version of this on my kindle. I don't remember downloading it, but I must have seen it recommended somewhere, I guess. A satirical portrait of the lives of American plutocrats from 1914, written by a Canadian. It has aged surprisingly well; it reads a bit like a slightly more venomous PG Wodehouse.

[Grier · Rating 5 out of 5]

These very funny linked short stories about life in a North American city bring to mind E F Benson, although Benson is more subtle. Leacock and Benson were contemporaries. Leacock was born in England but emigrated to Canada at age 7. He was the chairman of the political science and economics department at McGill University and wrote humorous books on the side.

[Milanimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arcadian Adventures is entertaining, but as a critique feels quaint and without consequence. I cant help but feel Leacock insulates the subjects of his satire from the world around them, leading to a book that can poke fun without injuring.

[Rachel Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arcadian Adventures With the Idle Rich by Stephen Leacock

Stephen Leacock joined together tales from the lives of those who gather at the Mausoleum Club with the edge of his satirical knife. The book mocks and chastises the financial and business pursuits of these characters through careful observation and pointed tone. There are short dialogues intertwined with artistically painted trips across the city to view the habitat of these characters.

Excerpt from Chapter One :

"I understand he is--" Mr. Fyshe was going to say "about to invest a large part of his fortune in American securities," but he thought better of it. Even with the clergy it is well to be careful. So he substituted "is very much interested in studying American conditions."

"Does he stay long?" asked Mr. Furlong.

Had Mr. Lucullus Fyshe replied quite truthfully, he would have said, "Not if I can get his money out of him quickly," but he merely answered, "That I don't know."

This book was written 103 years ago and amazingly held my attention the entire time. While it's obvious these characters are well drawn caricatures, you can't help but feel Leacock really felt them to be real and true. A large part of me finds the overarching theme unsatisfying as I do not begrudge someone real for having or living in wealth. Their society, as drawn up by Leacock, can agreeably be laughable for they take themselves so seriously while twiddling their thumbs over silly matters or drooling for more and more while they sit on heaps that they will never even touch. I find this an interesting read but difficult to apply to current wealthy society.

[Steven Langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following up our visit to Leacock's sprawling old cottage in Orillia (now a museum) I decided to reread one of the author's classics -- this caustic 1914 satire on the misadventures and schemes of Canada's wealthy. It is likely drawn from Leacock's insights into the rich and self-important of Toronto and Montreal (where he taught at McGill University.)

While "Sunshine Sketches" combines affection with satire in recounting life in small-town Mariposa, this book is much fiercer in its sarcastic rendering of the urban wealthy. The rivalry between churches for prestige is especially harshly handled -- though the best chapter of all is at the end as the rich set themselves to fight for "clean government," based around self-serving innovations to direct contracts and other favours to themselves.

I remember finding this book an appealingly angry attack on inequality when I first read it -- but I now find the biting humour a little too heavy-handed to be effective. It must have caused a very useful stir, though, in the conservative mustiness of early twentieth century Canada!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this stuff was utterly hilarious! It's got lots of surprisingly enduring satire.

[Richard Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great satire! As relevant today as when it was written

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Stephen Leacock. His witty satire stands the test of time and you would never know this book was written over 100 years ago. I like the style which was short stories with repeating characters. This book had a lot of economic themes and I am not sure I always got all the jokes which is why I gave it 3 stars.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arcadian Adventures reads like an adult Dr. Seuss book. The same poetic flow while poking fun at societal norms. i.e. “Almost any day, on Plutoria Avenue or thereabouts, you may see little Mr. Spillikins out walking with his four tall sons, who are practically as old as himself. ... Mr. Spillikins generally wears a little top hat and an English morning coat. The boys are in Eton jackets and black trousers, which, at their mother's wish, are kept just a little too short for them.”

The style of writing is fun for a short read, but I grew tired of it before the end of this book. I skimmed my way through the last few chapters.

The many characters were entertaining. The story moved too slow.
The beginning chapter was the most enjoyable. I laughed at the idea of nannies out with strollers carrying the young that “control from their cradles” million dollar corporations.

[Czarny Pies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephen Leacock is the Canadian writer who most accurately Canadian rural and urban society for the period running from the Boer war to the beginning of World War II. He was an economics professor at McGill university who had absolutely no aspirations to be a great writer. He wrote funny short stories because he loved humour and wanted to make people laugh. Nonetheless his work was greater than the writer's ambitions. This slim volume is the best work we will ever have on the attitudes and mores of English Montreal's commercial elite. Add two stars to my rating if you are Canadian.

If you are not Canadian read Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town first as this collection makes a quicker connection with foreigners than the Arcadian Adventures.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly relevant for a book close to 100 years old. Mining scandals, stock market mayhem, business strategists taking over areas they have no business getting into (haha), etc. Also a nice reminder people with greater than average money aren't necessarily those with greater than average intellects.

Reminded me of Edith Wharton and Candace Bushnell in the writing style and theme. The authors are all obviously well entrenched in the "scene" while they somewhat self-conciously critize others for shallow aspirations.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tongue in cheek look at the upper echelons of society in nineteen-teens America, Stephen Leacock writes a very humorous book in "Arcadian Adventures". On the one hand I really enjoyed it, on the other hand it seemed like there's quite a bit of realism in it still resonant today (especially in his final 'political' chapter). This is the second book by Leacock I've read and I will keep reading more. Love his style and his subjects.

[karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty amusing. It was a silly satire about the idle rich. I found it quite funny that the book rings true in 2007 - even though this book was written in 1914! The idle rich are still up to their same old antics, as evidenced in the media, tabloids, on reality tv shows about the rich, etc.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.G. Wodehouse fans should take a look at this satire of the idle rich from generations gone by. A couple of the linked stories nearly lost me in some of the older English or Canadian slang, but it quickly caught me back up in a mild joke. It was a cut fun read laughing at the filthy rich of yesteryear. Finished it in a few days time, because time and pages flew by in fun.

[Mcke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it very funny.
The way it's written accentuates the ridiculous seriousness in which the "higher society" characters take themselves.
Full of hypocrisy, greed and plain stupidity it gives a good giggle to anybody who has lived in the lower or middle classes.

[Hal Brodsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, funny book of biting satire, much of which sadly rings true today, especially the last chapter which is about wealthy people deciding to take over a local government. The middle chapters were particularly well done.

[Alexis]

Watch http://www.roughingitinthebooks.com for my review.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too funny!

[Lee Scoresby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than Sunset Sketches of a Small Town. More of the dark side here.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written humor that leaves you wanting more.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took an amazing course on looking at Canada's history through a literary lens. We had to read one book per week. This was probably the semester that I read the most books!

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best humour books I've ever read. Whip-smart satire that rings particularly true today.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - Leacock does not pull his punches about who's in power in 1920s fake-New-York.