Turnabout

312 pages with illustrations. Small octavo (7 3/4" x 5 1/2") bound in original publisher's black cloth with front board and spine stamped in turquoise in original publisher's pictorial jacket. Signed by the author on the front free end paper. First edition.

Though Thorne Smith's most popular works involve elements of fantasy and science fiction, the clever novel Turnabout takes his penchant for incorporating supernatural and magical themes in his work and puts one such plot twist to use as a comedic tool. An ancient Egyptian idol grows weary of the seemingly never-ending spats between the Willows, a young married couple, and forces them to switch bodies. As you might expect, hilarious hijinks ensue. Sally Willows envied her adman husband his glamorous work; Tim Willows felt Sally lived in ease and luxury while he was sweating to pay the bills. So an ill-tempered minor god, tired of their bickering, worked a modest miracle, and Sally Willows, now occupying her husband's body, experienced the full horrors of the Nationwide Advertising Agency, while Tim, now outwardly Sally, dealt with the amorous advances of a local Lothario. It was a toss-up whether Sally/Tim's well-earned dismissal or Tim/Sally's bizarre attempt at murder was more spectacular - but both seemed insignificant when Tim found he was pregnant!

Turnabout was made into a 1940 comedy film directed by Hal Roach and starring Adolphe Menjou, Carole Landis and John Hubbard. Based on the 1931 novel of the same name by Thorne Smith, the screenplay was written by Mickell Novack, Bernie Giler and John McClain with additional dialogue by Rian James. It was also a an American television situation comedy that first aired on NBC in 1979, based on the 1931 novel of the same title by Thorne Smith. The plot was about a husband and wife who found themselves inhabiting each other's bodies, similar to the plot of Freaky Friday. The series.

Condition: Signed on front free end paper, lightly rubbed and soiled. Jacket restored and repaired at edges, jack spine lightly sunned, some rubbing and thumb soiling to jacket still a near fine copy in like jacket.