Inquiry about Benchley Essay

Dear G.W.:

Thank you for contacting the Robert Benchley Society. You inquired about a short piece by Robert Benchley which you say you heard read by the late Alistair Cooke many years in Edinburgh, a piece possibly titled "I Killed Rasputin."

Mr. Benchley often choose titles for comic effect rather than relevancy to the subject matter, so it would be helpful if you could describe something of the essay.

Going just on the name alone, it could be "Who Killed Alfred Robin?" which is a parody of detective fiction. That essay may be found in the books

"From Bed to Worse, or Comforting Thoughts about the Bison" (1934), beginning on
page 151 and

"Benchley--Or Else!" (1947), beginning on page 222.

"Benchley -- Or Else!" is available for purchase via Amazon on our website
at

http://www.robertbenchley.org/shop/index.htm

Both books may be found in libraries.


Sincerely yours,
David Trumbull