Product Description

In letters to stars, dignitaries, and chairmen of the country's most powerful organizations, Don Novello's alter ego Lazlo Toth pestered his victims for photographs, offered outlandish advice, fired off strange inquiries, and more. The strangest part? Practically everyone answered, leaving Toth with a hilarious collection of outlandish correspondence unmatched in the history of American letters.

The Lazlo Letters contains nearly 100 notes to public figures, including then-President Nixon, Vice President Ford ("I've been Vice President of a lot of organizations myself, so I know how you feel."), Bebe Rebozo, Lester Maddox, Earl Butz, and America's top business leaders. The replies, says the author, "classic examples of American politeness."

In an on-going correspondence with the White House, Toth suggests everything from ridiculously corny jokes for the President to use, to a campaign song sung to the tune of "Tea for Two." He asks the president of a bubble bath company just how to use the product, as the packaging instructions specifically state to "keep dry."

"No matter how absurd my letter was, no matter how much I ranted and raved, they always answered," reports the author. "Many of these replies are beautiful examples of pure public relations nonsense." One is not: columnist James Kilpatrick has a lone sentiment for Toth-"Nuts to You!" 247,000 copies in print.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199440 in Books
• Published on: 1992-01-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Don Novello, aka Lazlo Toth, is also known as Fr. Guido Sarducci, gossip columnist for the official Vatican newspaper.

Customer Reviews

One of the funniest books ever written
Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci) is a prince among the creative geniuses of the 1970's and beyond. The Lazlo Letters is a masterpiece of comedic concept writing.

The first time I bought this book, it was selling $2.95 (yes, I still have it and that was the new cover price!). Even for whatever it costs now, it is still priceless.

It's one of those books I like to keep around to give out as a gift to friends and family. Everyone who ever got it from me told me they laughed and loved every page.

My only regret is that one of the follow up books (there are two) was on back order and never arrived.

Get this book and have a good laugh with still another one of Don Novello's alter egos.

Beyond funny
It's enough to say that this is the cleverest and funniest book that I have ever read. Trust me, I am old, and have read thousands of books in my lifetime. This one ranks very high in the top 10.

Good fun
An amazing collection of practical jokes on some of the world's most famous people and corporations. A lot of fun for someone who's aware of current events during this time period, and who likes to look back at them with a sense of humor. I bought this for a friend of mine who's a history buff, after reading another copy that had made its way around my extended family.