The humorous adventures of Hyman Kaplan, the irrepressible student at the American Night Preparatory School for Adults, and his personal war with the English language. A classic work of american humor.
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The humorous adventures of Hyman Kaplan, the irrepressible student at the American Night Preparatory School for Adults, and his personal war with the English language. A classic work of american humor.
Read Less
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Seller's Description:
Good. 1963 reprint with same cover design as the first edition. Ex-library book, usual markings. Hardback with dust cover. Clean copy, sound binding. Quick dispatch from UK seller.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Teachers and parents should love this book, if they are amused by concrete thinkers' struggle to understand the abstract and the rules that govern "proper English." Hyman Kaplan has come to the US from Eastern Europe in the 1930's and he is attending night school to learn English and to understand more about this wonderful country. His classmates are all adults from Europe and Asia; all want to understand English better to fit in better.
Kaplan is so proud of America, of what it promises, and of what it offers. This book masters malapropisms in a delightful way. While he is in a class with adults, think middle school. That's where the more concrete elementary school education starts to meet the more abstract and complicated world; it is the meshing of two universes.
Hyman Kaplan holds no grudges. He is proud of his education and of understanding (in his way) the world of English writing and literature. His rendition of "O, K*a*p*l*a*n! My K*a*p*l*a*n!" will show the celebration of his love of poetry.
fredro
Nov 7, 2008
Meeting an old friend again
The slightly worn copy of The Return of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N (the delightful cemntral character's own singular way of writing his name) seemed appropriate. I got to know H*K and his long-suffering EFL teacher ages ago and it was like meeting old friends again. Hyman is an East European immigrant in the US with an ego and personality greater than his adventurous knowledge and use of the English tongue. Sometimes his logic in dealing with the language and his less-imaginative classmates is hilariously logical; unfortunately (or fortunately for the hugely-entertained reader) neither human character (the weary teacher, perplexed fellow-students, ever-alert Hyman) nor English are fundamentally logical - especially spelling and syntax. Whoever likes language and 'characters' will love this book!
oakgeorgia
Mar 27, 2008
Classic for over 50 years
I loved this book when I read it 50 years ago (it's older than that), and I still do. You cannot help but admire Kaplan's spirit, and empathize with his travails, as he struggles with the idiosyncrasies of English grammar and usage as a European immigrant in 1930's New York. WHen I went to buy a copy for an ESL teacher friend, I was disappointed to see it's out of print, and old copies are not so easy to find. I guess everyone's holding on to theirs.
