The Irish Sense of Humor
“The Unexpurgated Code” is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. While it’s not as well-known as it once was, it’s found relevance again, and let’s be honest, the world could use it. This book is a real pick-me-up, almost like a shot of joy for your spirit. The table of contents is wonderfully haphazard, even better than some entire books. Here are just a few of the 270 topics Donleavy dives into:
“Regarding the Responsibility for Venereal Disease,” “Regarding the Enhancement of Your Background,” “Regarding Being Inappropriately Dressed During an Emergency,” “Regarding Your Saliva Hitting Someone Else,” “Regarding Polluting the Sidewalk,” “Regarding Spewing Insults at the Powerful,” “Regarding the Process of Exorcism,” and “Regarding the Close Approach of a UFO.”
Donleavy is most famous for his comic novel “The Ginger Man” from 1955, which follows the wild life of Sebastian Dangerfield, an American student in Dublin. (To give you a taste: “All I want is one break that doesn’t involve breaking my neck.”) On top of that, he has a ton of other novels, plays, and short story collections. His 1973 novel “A Fairy Tale of New York” even inspired that famous song by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl that gets everyone in the holiday spirit.
Donleavy was born in Brooklyn to Irish parents and grew up in the Bronx. His dad was a firefighter. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he moved to Ireland and stayed there for the rest of his life. You’d rarely see him in anything but layers of tweed, like he was a living ad for some fancy whiskey.
Those beat-up copies of “The Unexpurgated Code” float around among fans like they’re some kind of underground treasure. This book isn’t just funny; it really gets into the absurdities of how we humans behave like hardly any other book can. It points out the bumps, surprises, and tricky moments we all face. The big takeaway? We’re all flawed and fumbling our way through life, so hey, let’s at least try to keep it lighthearted.
If you ever find yourself feeling like an outsider at gatherings you’d rather not attend, if you’re not tall, if you end up eating at places with unimpressive setups, if you’re feeling as worn out as an old ping pong ball, and if you’re not part of the wealthy crowd getting dividends, just remember what Philip Larkin once said: “foolish problems require foolish solutions.” In that moment, maybe Donleavy can be the comfort you need.
“The Unexpurgated Code”
A few weeks back, I had a little incident at a restaurant with my family. It turned out to be just a misunderstanding, but it stung at the moment. That night when I got home still feeling a bit down, I turned to Donleavy for some light. From his piece “Upon Being Snubbed,” I found this gem: “Take comfort in the knowledge that you are very unlikely to be kidnapped.” You won’t find that kind of wisdom in a Miss Manners book.
You can flip to pretty much any page of “The Unexpurgated Code” and find yourself in stitches. If you don’t hail from a noble lineage and feel the need to explain your family’s history, Donleavy’s got you with: “Someone in your family must have been important at some point.” And if you happen to have a Red Cross Life Saving Certificate, he suggests throwing that tidbit out there.
One standout section is called “Upon Making the Contract for the Rubout.” Donleavy humorously says:
Be super clear with your hired thugs about which part of the target you want ‘taken care of’ since it’ll determine how long they’ll be out of commission. If you want to stop someone from writing checks, hit their wrists. To keep them away from their favorite spaghetti, a clean break above the elbow should do the trick.
He creates this wild character named “One Fingered Legs Apart Vinnie.”
Donleavy tackles all sorts of traditional etiquette topics, like how to behave at the dining table, in hair salons, at the theatre, during reunions, at banks, and when you’re under the weather. He quips, “Sneezing is a great way to spread your germs if that’s what those around you deserve.” But he also delves into some racier subjects, discussing things like orgies, voyeurism, and how to act in a porn theatre.
He doesn’t shy away from talking about things like flatulence as a secret weapon among spies, or nose-picking and popping pimples. He suggests these behaviors are better left for only your closest friends, although he admits they might be a super quick way to bond with someone.
Some of the most memorable parts tackle heavy topics like suicide and death. He advises: “Just take it easy and be patient. Many things will be handled for you.” If you discover you don’t have long left, he humorously suggests you shouldn’t rush off to some trendy nightclub just to shock everyone.
And if you find yourself standing near a coffin, try not to put too much weight on it. Those cheaper materials today might not hold, risking your feet busting through the lid and landing your dirty shoes awkwardly on the deceased.
Donleavy’s book is like a bit of a cheeky answer to Nancy Mitford’s 1955 essay “The English Aristocracy,” which looked at the odd differences between “U” (upper class) and “non-U” language. While it might seem like it’s all about English culture, Donleavy once said in an interview with The Paris Review that Americans might actually be more pretentious than the Brits.
This book speaks to the underdogs—the folks who often feel they get the rough end of the stick in life. It can bring you so much joy. One part even talks about “Upon Encountering Happiness,” cautioning you: “Be careful at these moments, for that is when life’s hardest hits often come.”