Cloudland Revisited: A Misspent Youth in Books and Film

From October 1948 to October 1953, The New Yorker published humorist S. J. Perelman’s “Cloudland Revisited” series: 22 reviews of once-popular books and silent films, which made an indelible mark on him.

In the comic genius’s biting satire they live once again:

• Gertrude Atherton’s sensationalist fantasy Black Oxen
• Sax Rohmer’s supervillain blockbuster The Mystery of Dr. Fu-Manchu
• the “underwater” silent film adaptation of Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
• Edgar Rice Burrough’s 1914 novel Tarzan of the Apes
• and George Barr McCutcheon’s 1901 historical fantasy novel Graustark—the Game of Thrones of its era—which launched numerous sequels and film adaptations

Perelman uses self-deprecating humor and anecdotes to explore the concept of rereading and rewatching as a means to reflect on our own growth and behavior over time. Along with a tribute from fellow New Yorker writer Adam Gopnik, this paperback offers insight into Perelman's artistry and unique perspective.