Let's be clear from the start: you won't find a linear plot here. Escuela de Humorismo is a collection—a mix of short novels and stories all orbiting the same brilliant idea. Imagine a proper, stuffy academy dedicated entirely to the study and practice of humor. The 'story' is really a tour of this bizarre school and its inhabitants.

The Story

We follow different characters—the over-eager student trying to master sarcasm, the pompous professor dissecting what makes a joke work, the administrator who sees comedy as just another set of rules to follow. Through their misadventures, Díaz-Caneja paints a picture of an institution that is both ridiculous and strangely familiar. The plots are gentle and episodic, more about capturing a series of amusing situations than building toward a single climax. It’s the literary equivalent of people-watching at the world's weirdest university.

Why You Should Read It

What I loved was how the book made me think without feeling like homework. By putting humor under a microscope in this fictional school, Díaz-Caneja quietly asks big questions. What really makes something funny? Can you teach creativity? Is there a point where analyzing joy kills the joy itself? The characters, for all their quirks, feel real in their struggles. You’ll recognize the know-it-all, the try-hard, and the cynical genius in these pages. It’s insightful, but never loses its light touch.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who enjoys clever, character-driven fiction with a unique premise. If you like authors who play with ideas and find the funny in everyday absurdity, you’ll feel right at home. It’s not a slapstick comedy, but a warm, witty, and thoughtful collection that leaves you with a smile. Think of it as a charming, early-20th-century forerunner to the kind of smart, premise-driven stories we see today.