The Book of Nonsense
“He reads but he cannot speak Spanish, / He cannot abide ginger-beer; / Ere the days of his pilgrimage vanish, / How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!” writes the 19th-century English poet Edward Lear in “Self Portrait of the Laureate of Nonsense.” When The Book of Nonsense was first published in 1845, under Lear’s pseudonym, Derry Down Derry, it was a success–some say it turned the once stodgy, didactic world of children’s literature on its head.
This rollicking poetic romp begins with “A Book of Nonsense” (1846), a slew of more-odd-than-bawdy limericks about the Young Lady of Wales, the Old Man of Vienna, and many, many more, all accompanied by the spare, whimsical ink drawings done by Lear himself. Part two urges readers to leap into “Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets” (1871), including the classic “The Owl and the Pussy-cat” and “The Jumblies” (who “went to sea in a Sieve”), along with equally rib-tickling but lesser known selections such as “The Nutcrackers and the Sugar-Tongs.” In this section, you’ll also discover instructions for how to make Crumbobblious Cutlets, a “Nonsense Botany” guide featuring the Bottlephorkia spoonifolia and the Manypeeplia upsidownia, and “Nonsense Alphabets,” strange little poems about quills, rattlesnakes, screws, and other words beginning with letters.
Part three merrily inflicts “More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, &c.” (1877) on readers with the well-known plant Washtubbia circularis and more wacky limericks such as “There was an old person of Bar, / Who passed all her life in a jar, / Which she painted pea-green, to appear more serene, / That placid old person of Bar.” As icing on a very strange cake, the last section offers “Laughable Lyrics, A Fourth Book of Nonsense Poems, Songs, Botany, Music, &c.” (1877), notably including “The Pobble Who Has No Toes.” Lear’s quirky sense of humor infuses every line of his ever skillful verse, which is often alliterative, and always very silly. Lear, the Laureate of Nonsense, frolics frivolously, and no one should ever go to sea in a Sieve without a copy of this book in tow. (All ages) –Karin Snelson
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars So You Don’t Get It
I can see why Stacy of California thinks this is a weird “incomprehendable” book. The word is “incomprehensible” Stacy. It takes a person of a proper old-fashioned education to appreciate this fine piece of classic literature. We oldsters don’t get weird modern art either, or some of the wacky movies Hollywood gives awards to but no one can imagine why.
5 Stars The Book of Nonsense
I loved reading these nonsense rhymes again after many years. Glad it was available again.
1 Star No drawings!
I love love loved Edward Lear but unfortunately this free copy doesn’t have the marvelous drawings. It would be better to get another edition of this wonderful book, one that is illustrated.
5 Stars Every child needs some nonsense
Edward Lear’s nonsense is of the best. Read it aloud! Your kids will amaze you by how fast they can begin to recite along with you! If you remember “The Owl and the Pussycat” from your childhood, you owe it to yourself and your children to share it and “The Jumblies” with them.
5 Stars Essential Nonsense!
This is a very well presented hardback containing the best of Edward Lear. Perhaps not as complete as Holbrook Jackson’s Complete Edward Lear, it nevertheless contains his best work, including A Book Of Nonsense, Limericks, alphabets and his most well-known poems, The Dong With The Luminous Nose, The Quangle Wangle Quee, and The Jumblies. The author’s quaint illustrations are well reproduced throughout.
The reason this book is so important to comedy is that the incluence on people like Spike Milligan, Beyond The Fringe, and of course Monty Python’s Flying Circus is clear. Lear was obviously the 19th century precursor to those humourists. Lear brings an educated and intelligent angle to his humour just as his successors did, and his talent as a poet and artist make this collection much more than just a collection of ‘nonsense’!
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