Thorne Smith was a celebrated American author, born on March 27, 1892, in Annapolis, Maryland. He attended Dartmouth College and later became a part-time advertising agent, although he did not earn a significant income from this job. Smith is best known for his comic fantasy novels, which often featured supernatural transformations, sex, and drinking. His works are infused with humor, supernatural, science fiction, and fantasy elements, making him a unique voice in American literature.
Smith's claim to fame came with the creation of his Topper character, which brought him considerable success. The Topper series, comprising two novels, is his most notable work. The books were incredibly popular during the 1930s, selling millions of copies, and remained popular in paperback editions in the 1950s. The racy illustrations in the Topper novels significantly contributed to their popularity and commercial success.
In addition to his work as an author, Smith was also part of a social and experimental community called Free Acres. This community was established in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, based on the economic principles of Henry George, and Smith was one of its first residents. He lived there while working on his writing. Smith's life was cut short when he died of a heart attack in 1934 during a vacation in Florida. His book Topper was later re-released in 1953 under the title The Jovial Ghosts. The book, along with its sequel, tells the story of a respectable banker named Cosmo Topper, who is married to a depressing woman named Mary.