The Return of Hyman Kaplan

Sequel to 'The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N, this charts another year in the beginners' class of the American Night School English class - what we would call TEFL today. The wonderful Mr Parkhill continues to plan interesting lessons for his multi-national group of students, regularly interrupted by the larger-than-life Mr Kaplan.

Stereotypes abound; the humour is at the expense of those for whom English is difficult, although sometimes it turns out that the joke is in fact on the absurdities of the language, while the students' logic is impeccable.

It's years since I read this, so I was delighted to find it again. Although I remembered a lot of it, it was still amusing and prompted a few chuckles. I wouldn't rate it as show more 'hilarious' as its contemporary reviewers did - this was published in 1960 - but I enjoyed reading this very much, along with the introduction of this 2000 re-print which places it in context for 21st century readers.

Recommended, if you don't mind this kind of stereotyped humour. show less

Pseudonym of Leo Rosten.
From Toronto, hardcover with paper jacket. More funny adventures of Mr. Kaplan and the other immigrants who study English in Mr. Parkhill's night class. Sometimes politically incorrect in its stereotypes of Eastern European immigrants. The humour as the students struggle with the inconsistencies of English spelling and grammar is spot-on.

1959. And still more antics of Hyman Kaplan. Will the teacher, Mr. Parkhill, (which Kaplan pronounces 'Pockheel') survive another semester with him?