Author(s): Edward Lear

Fiction

In the nineteenth century, Edward Lear invented a new genre - 'nonsense', blending his zany illustrations with seemingly meaningless but highly amusing poetry. His works are distinguished by a poet's delight in the sounds of words both real and imaginary. His invented terms 'snail mail' and the infamous 'runcible spoon' (which appears in The Oxford English Dictionary) are hallmarks of a genre which has amused and delighted readers of all ages over the years. This publication brings together some of his best-loved verse and drawings in a single volume, packed full of choice Leariana, including his exquisite illustrated nonsense alphabets, "The Owl and the Pussycat", his famously incomprehensible but delightful limericks, as well as images of the heroic and irrepressible Foss (a kind of Victorian Garfield), in his heraldic poses (Foss dansant). Packaged as a gift book, this publication has a timeless appeal and is as suitable for adults as it is for children.