What_DTQ Perelman_NP0 offers_VVZ us_PNP at_PRP his_DPS best_AJS is_VBZ a_AT0 picture_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 entire_AJ0 civilization_NN1 :_PUN mid-century_NN1 replaced-dns_NN2 from_PRP Getty_NP0 
S._NP0 J_NP0 ._SENT Perelman_NP0 's_POS reputation_NN1 rose_VVD first_ORD in_PRP the_AT0 nineteen-thirties_CRD ,_PUN when_CJS he_PNP became_VVD famous_AJ0 as_PRP a_AT0 comedy_NN1 writer_NN1 in_PRP New_NP0 York_NP0 and_CJC then_AV0 in_PRP Hollywood_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC rose_VVD still_AV0 higher_AJC in_PRP the_AT0 forties_CRD and_CJC fifties_CRD ,_PUN when_CJS he_PNP became_VVD the_AT0 most_AV0 admired_AJ0 of_PRF the_AT0 New_AJ0 Yorker_NN1 satirists_NN2 ._SENT Perelman_NP0 ,_PUN whom_PNQ everyone_PNI called_VVD Sid_NP0 ,_PUN then_AV0 reached_VVD a_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF surprising_AJ0 apex_NN1 of_PRF late_AJ0 fame_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 nineteen-seventies_CRD ,_PUN when_AVQ a_AT0 combination_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 glamour_NN1 associated_VVN with_PRP his_DPS thirties_CRD work_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 scriptwriter_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 Marx_NP0 Brothers_NN2 —_PUN not_XX0 a_AT0 word_NN1 he_PNP would_VM0 have_VHI used_VVN to_TO0 describe_VVI the_AT0 connection_NN1 —_PUN got_VVD coupled_VVN with_PRP a_AT0 larger_AJC rush_NN1 of_PRF general_AJ0 reverence_NN1 :_PUN Woody_NP0 Allen_NP0 's_POS early_AJ0 written_AJ0 work_NN1 was_VBD as_AV0 straight_AV0 an_AT0 homage_NN1 to_PRP Perelman_NP0 as_PRP one_CRD writer_NN1 can_VM0 give_VVI another_DT0 ._SENT Those_DT0 offering_VVG encomiums_NN2 to_PRP his_DPS preëminence_NN1 —_PUN as_CJS he_PNP might_VM0 have_VHI said_VVN ,_PUN the_AT0 ill-turned_AJ0 cliché_NN1 being_VBG one_CRD of_PRF his_DPS fascinations_NN2 —_PUN included_VVD Dorothy_NP0 Parker_NP0 ,_PUN Wilfrid_NP0 Sheed_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC many_DT0 out_AVP beyond_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 Australian_AJ0 critic_NN1 Clive_NP0 James_NP0 recalls_VVZ having_VHG lunch_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 famously_AV0 shy_AJ0 New_AJ0 Yorker_NN1 editor_NN1 William_NP0 Shawn_NP0 and_CJC alleviating_VVG the_AT0 awkwardness_NN1 by_PRP exchanging_VVG Perelmanisms_NN2 at_PRP length_NN1 ._SENT When_CJS Sid_NP0 moved_VVD to_PRP London_NP0 ,_PUN in_PRP the_AT0 seventies_CRD —_PUN he_PNP soon_AV0 came_VVD back_AVP to_PRP New_NP0 York_NP0 ,_PUN complaining_VVG of_PRF "_PUQ too_AV0 much_DT0 couth_NN1 "_PUQ —_PUN it_PNP was_VBD hard_AJ0 news_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 Times_NN2 ._SENT 
Some_DT0 fifty_CRD some_DT0 years_NN2 later_AV0 —_PUN well_AV0 ,_PUN who_PNQ knows_VVZ where_AVQ anyone_PNI 's_POS reputation_NN1 rests_VVZ now_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ Everything_PNI is_VBZ niche_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ a_AT0 wise_AJ0 Gen_NP0 Z-er_NP0 tells_VVZ her_DPS father_NN1 ._SENT Certainly_AV0 ,_PUN Perelman_NP0 's_POS sentences_NN2 dazzle_VVB a_AT0 contemporary_AJ0 reader_NN1 as_CJS much_AV0 as_CJS they_PNP did_VDD Shawn_NP0 and_CJC James_NP0 ._SENT Not_XX0 sentences_NN2 alone_AJ0 but_CJC entire_AJ0 paragraphs_NN2 as_CJS beautifully_AV0 and_CJC intricately_AV0 constructed_VVN as_PRP a_AT0 Rube_NP0 Goldberg_NP0 machine_NN1 ,_PUN with_PRP cliché_NN1 backing_NN1 into_PRP argot_NN1 flirting_VVG with_PRP Broadway_NP0 slang_NN1 ,_PUN Yiddish_AJ0 and_CJC British_AJ0 pretension_NN1 side_NN1 by_PRP side_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP was_VBD one_CRD of_PRF the_AT0 best_AJS pure_AJ0 writers_NN2 in_PRP American_AJ0 English_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP still_AV0 is_VBZ ._SENT What_DTQ has_VHZ shifted_VVN is_VBZ not_XX0 so_AV0 much_DT0 the_AT0 scale_NN1 of_PRF Perelman_NP0 's_POS reputation_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 persistence_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 tradition_NN1 in_PRP which_DTQ he_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 master_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF extended_AJ0 rococo_AJ0 ,_PUN satiric_AJ0 riff_NN1 that_CJT he_PNP helped_VVD invent_VVB ,_PUN and_CJC then_AV0 perfected_VVN ,_PUN is_VBZ no_AT0 longer_AJC an_AT0 entirely_AV0 living_AJ0 genre_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 casual_AJ0 comic_AJ0 piece_NN1 has_VHZ become_VVN more_AV0 compressed_AJ0 and_CJC less_AV0 consciously_AV0 literary_AJ0 ._SENT A_AT0 typical_AJ0 Shouts_NN2 &_NN1 Murmurs_NN2 in_PRP The_AT0 New_AJ0 Yorker_NN1 now_AV0 is_VBZ sometimes_AV0 scarcely_AV0 longer_AJC than_CJS the_AT0 prefatory_AJ0 quotations_NN2 that_CJT Perelman_NP0 would_VM0 use_VVI as_PRP the_AT0 setup_NN1 for_PRP one_CRD of_PRF his_DPS pieces_NN2 :_PUN the_AT0 eyebrow-raising_AJ0 citations_NN2 from_PRP advertising_AJ0 copy_NN1 or_CJC fashion_NN1 magazines_NN2 —_PUN or_CJC even_AV0 an_AT0 instruction_NN1 manual_NN1 for_PRP an_AT0 electric_AJ0 blanket_NN1 —_PUN the_AT0 fatuities_NN2 of_PRF which_DTQ Perelman_NP0 would_VM0 then_AV0 satirize_VVI in_PRP a_AT0 comic_AJ0 sketch_NN1 ._SENT 
If_CJS this_DT0 means_VVZ that_CJT Perelman_NP0 's_POS voice_NN1 now_AV0 flows_VVZ less_AV0 naturally_AV0 into_PRP the_AT0 next_ORD literary_AJ0 thing_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP also_AV0 means_VVZ that_CJT we_PNP can_VM0 see_VVI it_PNP more_AV0 clearly_AV0 as_CJS a_AT0 thing_NN1 —_PUN not_XX0 something_PNI meant_VVD to_TO0 be_VBI quoted_VVN and_CJC abridged_VVN but_CJC as_CJS a_AT0 finished_AJ0 form_NN1 of_PRF American_AJ0 literature_NN1 in_PRP itself_PNX ._SENT Perelman_NP0 's_POS great_AJ0 subject_NN1 is_VBZ ,_PUN as_PRP Sheed_NP0 first_ORD intimated_VVD ,_PUN American_AJ0 vulgarity_NN1 ,_PUN flowing_VVG up_AVP and_CJC down_AVP like_PRP waves_NN2 of_PRF electricity_NN1 through_PRP a_AT0 cat_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 cartoon_NN1 ,_PUN exposing_VVG its_DPS innards_NN2 even_AV0 as_CJS it_PNP shocks_VVZ our_DPS sensibilities_NN2 ._SENT (_PUL He_PNP said_VVD as_PRP much_DT0 himself_PNX :_PUN "_PUQ I_PNP 've_VHB sought_VVN material_NN1 ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT in_PRP the_AT0 novels_NN2 I_PNP read_VVD in_PRP my_DPS youth_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 movies_NN2 I_PNP saw_VVD ,_PUN my_DPS Hollywood_NP0 years_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC in_PRP advertising_NN1 "_PUQ —_PUN i.e._AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 three_CRD prime_AJ0 sources_NN2 of_PRF American_AJ0 vulgarity_NN1 ._SENT )_PUR 
With_PRP Perelman_NP0 ,_PUN parents_NN2 and_CJC relations_NN2 ,_PUN his_DPS entire_AJ0 childhood_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP Providence_NP0 ,_PUN Rhode_NP0 Island_NP0 —_PUN where_AVQ his_DPS ne'er-do-well_NN1 father_NN1 passed_VVN from_PRP failure_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 grocer_NN1 to_PRP failure_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 chicken_NN1 farmer_NN1 ,_PUN both_DT0 classic_AJ0 Jewish_AJ0 occupations_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 period_NN1 —_PUN scarcely_AV0 register_VVB at_PRP all_DT0 ,_PUN or_CJC only_AV0 as_CJS phantoms_NN2 ,_PUN passing_VVG obstacles_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 boy_NN1 's_POS determination_NN1 to_TO0 get_VVI safely_AV0 away_AV0 to_TO0 read_VVI ._SENT But_CJC each_DT0 book_NN1 he_PNP reads_VVZ haunts_VVZ his_DPS imagination_NN1 and_CJC his_DPS writing_NN1 forever_AV0 after_PRP ._SENT He_PNP reads_VVZ junk_NN1 and_CJC good_AJ0 things_NN2 interchangeably_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC never_AV0 forgets_VVZ a_AT0 single_AJ0 turn_NN1 :_PUN Sax_NP0 Rohmer_NP0 's_POS absurd_AJ0 Fu_NP0 Manchu_NP0 stories_NN2 ,_PUN Elinor_NP0 Glyn_NP0 's_POS sensual_AJ0 over-excitements_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC Edgar_NP0 Rice_NP0 Burroughs_NP0 's_POS ornate_AJ0 Tarzan_NP0 tales_NN2 are_VBB his_DPS reading_NN1 ,_PUN along_AVP with_PRP Twain_NN1 and_CJC Conrad_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC of_PRF course_NN1 behind_PRP them_PNP hover_VVB the_AT0 club_NN1 and_CJC detective_NN1 literature_NN1 of_PRF London_NP0 ._SENT (_PUL He_PNP rarely_AV0 directly_AV0 parodied_VVN the_AT0 Sherlock_NP0 Holmes_NP0 stories_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC often_AV0 implicitly_AV0 alluded_VVN to_PRP them_PNP ._SENT )_PUR 
Like_PRP many_DT0 good_AJ0 writers_NN2 ,_PUN he_PNP took_VVD a_AT0 startlingly_AV0 long_AJ0 time_NN1 to_TO0 find_VVI his_DPS best_AJS voice_NN1 —_PUN he_PNP was_VBD famous_AJ0 before_CJS he_PNP was_VBD great_AJ0 ._SENT Though_CJS his_DPS contribution_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 Marx_NP0 Brothers_NN2 became_VVD an_AT0 important_AJ0 part_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS legend_NN1 ,_PUN what_DTQ he_PNP wrote_VVD for_PRP the_AT0 two_CRD finest_AJS of_PRF their_DPS movies_NN2 —_PUN "_PUQ Monkey_NN1 Business_NN1 "_PUQ and_CJC the_AT0 even_AV0 better_AJC "_PUQ Horse_NN1 Feathers_NN2 "_PUQ —_PUN is_VBZ unsettled_VVN ._SENT Perelman_NP0 's_POS contributions_NN2 are_VBB hard_AJ0 to_TO0 define_VVI amid_PRP the_AT0 uncertainties_NN2 of_PRF studio-system_AJ0 group_NN1 writing_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC when_CJS Groucho_NP0 says_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ Lodge_NN1 with_PRP me_PNP and_CJC my_DPS fleas_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 hills_NN2 ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT ._SENT I_PNP mean_VVB ,_PUN flee_VVB to_PRP my_DPS lodge_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 hills_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ or_CJC when_CJS the_AT0 college_NN1 secretary_NN1 informs_VVZ him_PNP ,_PUN in_PRP "_PUQ Horse_NN1 Feathers_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ that_CJT the_AT0 waiting_AJ0 dean_NN1 is_VBZ waxing_VVG wroth_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC Groucho_NP0 replies_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ Is_VBZ Roth_NP0 out_AVP there_AV0 ,_PUN too_AV0 ?_SENT Tell_VVB Roth_NP0 to_TO0 wax_VVI the_AT0 dean_NN1 for_PRP a_AT0 while_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ we_PNP are_VBB surely_AV0 hearing_VVG Perelman_NP0 at_PRP work_NN1 ._SENT 
In_PRP the_AT0 thirties_CRD ,_PUN as_CJS an_AT0 efflorescence_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS unhappy_AJ0 Hollywood_NP0 years_NN2 ,_PUN he_PNP did_VDD write_VVI the_AT0 single_AJ0 piece_NN1 that_CJT comes_VVZ closest_AV0 to_PRP being_VBG the_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF literary_AJ0 "_PUQ masterpiece_NN1 "_PUQ that_CJT would_VM0 find_VVI its_DPS way_NN1 into_PRP anthologies_NN2 :_PUN the_AT0 long_AJ0 ,_PUN amazing_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ Joycean_AJ0 "_PUQ piece_NN1 called_VVN "_PUQ Scenario_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ a_AT0 surreal_AJ0 representation_NN1 of_PRF what_DTQ 's_VBZ now_AV0 called_VVN a_AT0 pitch_NN1 meeting_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ includes_VVZ every_AT0 imaginable_AJ0 cliché_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 period_NN1 's_POS movies_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC even_AV0 of_PRF its_DPS movie_NN1 reviewing_NN1 (_PUL James_NP0 Agee_NP0 makes_VVZ a_AT0 brief_AJ0 appearance_NN1 )_PUR ._SENT Nor_CJC did_VDD he_PNP ever_AV0 outgrow_VVB the_AT0 appetite_NN1 for_PRP writing_VVG a_AT0 movie_NN1 or_CJC ,_PUN better_AV0 ,_PUN a_AT0 stage_NN1 hit_VVD ._SENT He_PNP did_VDD win_VVI an_AT0 Oscar_NN1 eventually_AV0 ,_PUN for_PRP the_AT0 not-very-stirring_AJ0 1956_CRD spectacular_AJ0 "_PUQ Around_PRP the_AT0 World_NN1 in_PRP 80_CRD Days_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ and_CJC did_VDD write_VVI one_CRD good_AJ0 play_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ The_AT0 Beauty_NN1 Part_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ from_PRP 1961_CRD ,_PUN doomed_VVN to_PRP a_AT0 short_AJ0 run_NN1 by_PRP ,_PUN of_PRF all_DT0 things_NN2 ,_PUN a_AT0 New_AJ0 York_NP0 newspaper_NN1 strike_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC sporadically_AV0 revived_VVN ever_AV0 since_AV0 ._SENT 
To_PRP this_DT0 reader_NN1 ,_PUN though_AV0 ,_PUN it_PNP is_VBZ after_PRP the_AT0 Second_ORD World_NN1 War_NN1 ,_PUN with_PRP the_AT0 growth_NN1 both_AV0 of_PRF American_AJ0 abundance_NN1 and_CJC of_PRF the_AT0 American_AJ0 analytic_AJ0 culture_NN1 that_CJT went_VVD with_PRP it_PNP —_PUN it_PNP is_VBZ no_AT0 accident_NN1 that_CJT Perelman_NP0 's_POS outstanding_AJ0 collection_NN1 "_PUQ The_AT0 Road_NN1 to_PRP Miltown_NP0 "_PUQ is_VBZ named_VVN after_PRP a_AT0 psychiatrist_NN1 's_POS pet_NN1 tranquilizer_NN1 —_PUN that_CJT Perelman_NP0 gets_VVZ great_AJ0 ._SENT And_CJC here_AV0 an_AT0 odd_AJ0 point_NN1 arises_VVZ :_PUN although_CJS the_AT0 subject_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS satire_NN1 ,_PUN American_AJ0 vulgarity_NN1 ,_PUN is_VBZ evergreen_AJ0 ,_PUN the_AT0 objects_NN2 of_PRF his_DPS satire_NN1 may_VM0 seem_VVI to_TO0 have_VHI been_VBN transient_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC now_AV0 long_AV0 passed_VVN ._SENT The_AT0 manners_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 art-house_AJ0 movie_NN1 theatre_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 prose_NN1 style_NN1 of_PRF Diana_NP0 Vreeland_NP0 in_PRP Harper_NP0 's_POS Bazaar_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 decorum_NN1 of_PRF Hathaway_NP0 shirt_NN1 ads_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 behavior_NN1 of_PRF Midtown_NP0 dry_AJ0 cleaners_NN2 or_CJC the_AT0 imagined_AJ0 behavior_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 father_NN1 of_PRF Indian_AJ0 Prime_AJ0 Minister_NN1 Pandit_NP0 Nehru_NP0 —_PUN all_DT0 of_PRF these_DT0 things_NN2 seem_VVB long_AV0 faded_VVN as_PRP targets_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC yet_AV0 the_AT0 pieces_NN2 have_VHB not_XX0 faded_VVN at_PRP all_DT0 ._SENT 
It_PNP is_VBZ the_AT0 myth_NN1 of_PRF satire_NN1 that_CJT satire_NN1 is_VBZ diminished_VVN as_PRP its_DPS objects_NN2 lose_VVB lustre_NN1 ._SENT Who_PNQ now_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 argument_NN1 goes_VVZ ,_PUN can_VM0 even_AV0 recall_VVI the_AT0 names_NN2 ,_PUN much_AV0 less_AV0 the_AT0 styles_NN2 ,_PUN of_PRF the_AT0 poets_NN2 Alexander_NP0 Pope_NP0 is_VBZ mocking_AJ0 at_PRP such_DT0 laborious_AJ0 length_NN1 in_PRP "_PUQ The_AT0 Dunciad_NN1 "_PUQ ?_SENT In_PRP truth_NN1 ,_PUN just_AV0 the_AT0 opposite_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT0 case_NN1 for_PRP even_AV0 minimally_AV0 attentive_AJ0 readers_NN2 ._SENT Great_AJ0 poetic_AJ0 satire_NN1 brings_VVZ its_DPS field_NN1 of_PRF mockery_NN1 with_PRP it_PNP ;_PUN the_AT0 objects_NN2 of_PRF satire_NN1 are_VBB more_AV0 evident_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 satire_NN1 than_CJS the_AT0 mockery_NN1 is_VBZ ,_PUN more_AV0 evident_AJ0 than_CJS they_PNP were_VBD to_PRP the_AT0 time_NN1 supposedly_AV0 satirized_VVN ._SENT We_PNP enjoy_VVB satire_NN1 more_AV0 when_CJS we_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 know_VVI the_AT0 things_NN2 being_VBG satirized_VVN —_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 cannot_AJ0 protest_NN1 their_DPS portrayal_NN1 —_PUN and_CJC depend_VVB on_PRP the_AT0 satirist_NN1 for_PRP all_DT0 our_DPS information_NN1 ,_PUN both_AV0 for_PRP the_AT0 ground_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 graffiti_NN0 he_PNP scrawls_VVZ upon_PRP it_PNP ._SENT Like_PRP fossils_NN2 —_PUN or_CJC ,_PUN to_TO0 use_VVI a_AT0 Popean_NP0 metaphor_NN1 ,_PUN like_PRP ancient_AJ0 grubs_NN2 caught_VVN in_PRP amber_NN1 —_PUN we_PNP know_VVB Hollywood_NP0 producers_NN2 or_CJC the_AT0 advertising_AJ0 copy_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 nineteen-forties_CRD because_CJS they_PNP still_AV0 exist_VVB in_PRP Perelman_NP0 ._SENT It_PNP is_VBZ not_XX0 his_DPS disgust_NN1 but_CJC his_DPS defensive_AJ0 reaction_NN1 ,_PUN his_DPS spinning_AJ0 webs_NN2 of_PRF silk_NN1 to_TO0 weave_VVI around_AVP the_AT0 caught_AJ0 objects_NN2 of_PRF his_DPS pursuit_NN1 ,_PUN that_DT0 still_AJ0 delights_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 particular_AJ0 Hollywood_NP0 producers_NN2 whom_PNQ Perelman_NP0 hated_VVD are_VBB long_AV0 gone_VVN —_PUN the_AT0 Mike_NP0 Todds_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 Hunt_NP0 Strombergs_NP0 —_PUN just_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 particular_AJ0 poets_NN2 whom_PNQ Pope_NP0 mocked_VVD are_VBB gone_VVN ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT But_CJC the_AT0 evocation_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 show-business_AJ0 world_NN1 marked_VVN by_PRP hearty_AJ0 hyperbole_NN1 ,_PUN mindless_AJ0 energy_NN1 ,_PUN empty_AJ0 promises_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC limitless_AJ0 dissembling_AJ0 remains_NN2 ._SENT Knock_VVB on_PRP any_DT0 producer_NN1 's_POS door_NN1 and_CJC meet_VVB a_AT0 Perelman_NP0 character_NN1 ._SENT 
By_PRP the_AT0 sixties_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 secure_AJ0 sense_NN1 of_PRF disgust_NN1 that_CJT Perelman_NP0 could_VM0 share_VVI with_PRP his_DPS audience_NN1 had_VHD passed_VVN ._SENT Advertising_NN1 had_VHD become_VVN canonized_VVN by_PRP Andy_NP0 Warhol_NP0 and_CJC Pop_NN1 art_NN1 ;_PUN the_AT0 Hollywood_NP0 of_PRF the_AT0 Irving_NP0 Thalberg_NP0 era_NN1 ,_PUN perhaps_AV0 most_AV0 bizarrely_AV0 ,_PUN had_VHD become_VVN a_AT0 golden_AJ0 age_NN1 ,_PUN not_XX0 a_AT0 tarnished_AJ0 one_PNI ._SENT (_PUL There_EX0 's_VBZ a_AT0 nice_AJ0 moment_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS later_AJC reminiscences_NN2 when_CJS a_AT0 youngster_NN1 tries_VVZ to_TO0 ask_VVI Sid_NP0 about_PRP the_AT0 golden_AJ0 age_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC he_PNP has_VHZ to_TO0 dry_VVI him_PNP off_AVP behind_PRP the_AT0 ears_NN2 ._SENT )_PUR The_AT0 basis_NN1 of_PRF discrimination_NN1 between_PRP quality_NN1 and_CJC vulgarity_NN1 that_CJT Perelman_NP0 's_POS satire_NN1 depended_VVD on_PRP had_VHD overturned_VVN —_PUN cracked_VVN past_PRP putting_VVG back_AVP together_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 high-low_AJ0 distinctions_NN2 —_PUN and_CJC what_DTQ is_VBZ called_VVN ,_PUN disparagingly_AV0 ,_PUN middlebrow_NN1 culture_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 joint_NN1 between_PRP them_PNP —_PUN were_VBD gone_VVN ,_PUN and_CJC Perelman_NP0 was_VBD increasingly_AV0 lost_VVN ._SENT 
But_CJC what_DTQ Perelman_NP0 offers_VVZ us_PNP at_PRP his_DPS best_AJS is_VBZ not_XX0 a_AT0 parody_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 time_NN1 gone_VVN by_PRP ,_PUN or_CJC the_AT0 notebooks_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 grump_VVB ._SENT It_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 picture_NN1 of_PRF an_AT0 entire_AJ0 civilization_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 mid-century_NN1 postwar_AJ0 civilization_NN1 of_PRF American_AJ0 abundance_NN1 ,_PUN where_AVQ advertising_NN1 reigned_VVD and_CJC middlebrow_NN1 culture_NN1 flourished_VVD ._SENT We_PNP try_VVB too_AV0 often_AV0 to_TO0 lift_VVI the_AT0 reputations_NN2 of_PRF great_AJ0 comic_AJ0 writers_NN2 by_PRP insisting_VVG that_CJT they_PNP are_VBB not_XX0 really_AV0 comic_AJ0 writers_NN2 :_PUN that_DT0 ,_PUN beneath_PRP the_AT0 comic_AJ0 surface_NN1 ,_PUN there_EX0 lurks_VVZ a_AT0 darker_AJC picture_NN1 of_PRF manners_NN2 and_CJC society_NN1 and_CJC sex_NN1 or_CJC something_PNI or_CJC other_AJ0 —_PUN phrases_NN2 that_CJT get_VVB written_VVN too_AV0 often_AV0 (_PUL sometimes_AV0 by_PRP me_PNP )_PUR ._SENT What_DTQ makes_VVZ a_AT0 great_AJ0 comic_AJ0 writer_NN1 is_VBZ not_XX0 that_CJT they_PNP are_VBB secretly_AV0 serious_AJ0 but_CJC that_CJT they_PNP are_VBB entirely_AV0 so_AV0 —_PUN that_CJT the_AT0 indignation_NN1 or_CJC even_AV0 the_AT0 rage_NN1 they_PNP feel_VVB at_PRP their_DPS subjects_NN2 all_AV0 gets_VVZ sublimated_AJ0 into_PRP shapely_AJ0 sentences_NN2 worth_PRP marvelling_VVG at_PRP ._SENT Poetry_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 famous_AJ0 saying_NN1 has_VHZ it_PNP ,_PUN is_VBZ emotion_NN1 recollected_VVN in_PRP tranquility_NN1 ;_PUN comedy_NN1 is_VBZ indignation_NN1 reanimated_VVN with_PRP style_NN1 ,_PUN pain_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC annoyance_NN1 ,_PUN forced_VVD to_TO0 wear_VVI a_AT0 funny_AJ0 hat_NN1 and_CJC perform_VVB ._SENT 
In_PRP trying_VVG to_TO0 "_PUQ raise_VVI "_PUQ Perelman_NP0 's_POS reputation_NN1 ,_PUN we_PNP may_VM0 misplace_VVI it_PNP ._SENT Many_DT0 have_VHB tried_VVN to_TO0 augment_VVI his_DPS stature_NN1 by_PRP referencing_VVG him_PNP to_PRP Joyce_NP0 ,_PUN or_CJC to_PRP Nathanael_NP0 West_NP0 —_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD a_AT0 less_AV0 talented_AJ0 writer_NN1 than_CJS Perelman_NP0 ,_PUN his_DPS brother-in-law_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC ,_PUN with_PRP "_PUQ The_AT0 Day_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Locust_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ the_AT0 author_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 more_AV0 assured_AJ0 "_PUQ masterwork_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Perelman_NP0 was_VBD at_PRP his_DPS most_AV0 literary_AJ0 when_CJS he_PNP was_VBD n't_XX0 being_VBG that_DT0 literary_AJ0 ,_PUN or_CJC not_XX0 in_PRP that_DT0 way_NN1 ._SENT If_CJS there_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 revelatory_AJ0 comparison_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI made_VVN of_PRF Perelman_NP0 to_PRP a_AT0 contemporary_AJ0 ,_PUN it_PNP may_VM0 be_VBI in_PRP his_DPS kinship_NN1 with_PRP his_DPS closest_AJS literary_AJ0 friend_NN1 ,_PUN J_NP0 ._SENT D_ZZ0 ._SENT Salinger_NP0 ._SENT Although_CJS they_PNP seem_VVB as_CJS different_AJ0 as_CJS two_CRD writers_NN2 can_VM0 be_VBI —_PUN the_AT0 mordant_AJ0 New_NP0 York_NP0 satirist_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 visionary_AJ0 New_NP0 Hampshire_NP0 mystic_NN1 —_PUN as_CJS stylists_NN2 (_PUL and_CJC writers_NN2 '_POS interest_NN1 us_PNP first_ORD as_PRP stylists_NN2 ,_PUN or_CJC they_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 interest_VVI us_PNP )_PUR they_PNP have_VHB an_AT0 immense_AJ0 amount_NN1 in_PRP common_AJ0 ._SENT Both_DT0 were_VBD born_VVN as_PRP writers_NN2 in_PRP public_AJ0 libraries_NN2 —_PUN hyper-bright_AJ0 American_AJ0 Jewish_AJ0 urban_AJ0 boys_NN2 from_PRP unliterary_AJ0 backgrounds_NN2 ,_PUN encountering_VVG the_AT0 classics_NN2 on_PRP their_DPS own_DT0 ,_PUN without_PRP too_AV0 much_AV0 pre-sorting_AJ0 ,_PUN responding_VVG with_PRP delight_NN1 ,_PUN imitation_NN1 ,_PUN amusement_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC familiarity_NN1 ._SENT Salinger_NP0 's_POS Zooey_NP0 seeing_VVG Jesus_NP0 as_CJS he_PNP is_VBZ reading_VVG "_PUQ Dombey_NN1 and_CJC Son_NN1 "_PUQ while_CJS drinking_VVG ginger_AJ0 ale_NN1 and_CJC eating_NN1 saltines_NN2 could_VM0 be_VBI a_AT0 more_AV0 mystical_AJ0 version_NN1 of_PRF Perelman_NP0 's_POS poetic_AJ0 epiphanies_NN2 in_PRP Rhode_NP0 Island_NP0 ._SENT The_AT0 light_AJ0 irony_NN1 with_PRP which_DTQ even_AV0 their_DPS straight_AJ0 descriptive_AJ0 sentences_NN2 are_VBB always_AV0 loaded_VVN is_VBZ part_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 acute_AJ0 horizontal_AJ0 consciousness_NN1 —_PUN always_AV0 hearing_VVG in_PRP one_PNI 's_POS own_DT0 sentences_NN2 a_AT0 favorite_AJ0 author_NN1 's_POS pages_NN2 ._SENT 
And_CJC both_AV0 Sid_NP0 and_CJC Jerry_NP0 ,_PUN as_CJS they_PNP called_VVD each_DT0 other_NN1 ,_PUN ended_VVD their_DPS lives_NN2 in_PRP some_DT0 bitterness_NN1 and_CJC too_AV0 much_DT0 isolation_NN1 —_PUN more_AV0 ostentatious_AJ0 in_PRP Salinger_NP0 's_POS case_NN1 ,_PUN of_PRF course_NN1 ..._PUN but_CJC both_AV0 ,_PUN in_PRP their_DPS writing_NN1 ,_PUN also_AV0 landed_VVN on_PRP an_AT0 ideal_NN1 of_PRF improvised_AJ0 ,_PUN eccentric_AJ0 high_AJ0 style_NN1 as_PRP an_AT0 instinctive_AJ0 alternative_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 dreck_NN1 of_PRF daily_AJ0 life_NN1 and_CJC what_DTQ we_PNP now_AV0 call_VVB media_NN0 culture_NN1 ._SENT Even_AV0 in_PRP a_AT0 niche_NN1 ,_PUN salvation_NN1 by_PRP glimpses_NN2 and_CJC redemption_NN1 by_PRP verbal_AJ0 energy_NN1 are_VBB still_AV0 possible_AJ0 ._SENT Both_AV0 Sid_NP0 and_CJC Jerry_NP0 take_VVB quick_AJ0 hits_NN2 of_PRF spontaneous_AJ0 high_AJ0 style_NN1 —_PUN one_CRD girl_NN1 seen_VVN with_PRP her_DPS dog_NN1 on_PRP Park_NP0 Avenue_NP0 ,_PUN one_CRD genuinely_AV0 new_AJ0 verbal_AJ0 twist_NN1 found_VVN in_PRP a_AT0 London_NP0 paper_NN1 —_PUN as_CJS the_AT0 best_AJS we_PNP have_VHB in_PRP life_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC the_AT0 best_AJS we_PNP can_VM0 get_VVI ._SENT For_PRP all_DT0 of_PRF Perelman_NP0 's_POS disgust_NN1 with_PRP what_DTQ the_AT0 world_NN1 was_VBD becoming_VVG ,_PUN you_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 read_VVI him_PNP without_PRP feeling_VVG better_AV0 about_PRP the_AT0 world_NN1 we_PNP have_VHB ,_PUN because_CJS he_PNP gave_VVD the_AT0 world_NN1 he_PNP knew_VVD to_PRP us_PNP so_AV0 fully_AV0 that_CJT it_PNP becomes_VVZ a_AT0 world_NN1 we_PNP want_VVB ._SENT You_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 ask_VVI for_PRP more_DT0 than_CJS that_DT0 from_PRP any_DT0 poet_NN1 ._SENT 
