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The Specialist
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025460321
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 36
Weight: 0.14
Height: 0.07 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Specialist is a classic of American humor, immortalizing the persona of Lem Putt, a rural craftsman who prides himself on being the country's leading expert in the construction of outdoor privies. Through a series of earnest and detailed monologues, the narrator describes the intricate technicalities, design considerations, and aesthetic choices involved in building the perfect outhouse. From the placement of the structure to the proper hinging of the door, every element is treated with the gravity and professional dedication of a master architect.
Written by vaudeville performer Charles Chic Sale, the work captures the unique flavor of early 20th-century rural Americana. It is celebrated for its wit, earthy charm, and its affectionate portrayal of a specialized tradesman. The book quickly became a cultural phenomenon upon its release in 1929, even adding a new term to the American lexicon. This humorous masterpiece remains a significant piece of folk literature, offering a nostalgic and comedic glimpse into a vanished era of domestic life and the enduring spirit of the self-taught artisan.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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