Free e-text of "Nonsense Books" by Edward Lear.
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NONSENSE BOOKS
by
EDWARD LEAR
With all the Original Illustrations
1894
PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. The first _Book of Nonsense_ was published in 1846. Three other volumes,-- _Nonsense Songs, Stories, etc._, published in 1871; _More Nonsense Pictures, etc._, in 1872; and _Laughable Lyrics: A Fresh Book of Nonsense, etc._, in 1877,--comprise all the "Nonsense Books" written by Mr. Lear.
"Surely the most beneficent and innocent of all books
yet produced is the _Book of Nonsense_, with its corollary
carols, inimitable and refreshing, and perfect in rhythm.
I really don't know any author to whom I am half so
grateful for my idle self as Edward Lear. I shall put
him first of my hundred authors."
JOHN RUSKIN,
In the _List of the Best Hundred Authors_.
[Illustration: EDWARD LEAR. ENGRAVED BY ANDREW FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN SAN REMO, BY RONCAROLO.]
CONTENTS.
I. A BOOK OF NONSENSE.
II. NONSENSE SONGS, STORIES, BOTANY, AND ALPHABETS.
III. MORE NONSENSE PICTURES, RHYMES, BOTANY, ETC.
IV. LAUGHABLE LYRICS:
A FRESH BOOK OF NONSENSE POEMS, SONGS, BOTANY, ETC.
[Illustration: QUI LEGIT REGIT.]
The following lines by Mr. Lear were written for a young lady of his acquaintance, who had quoted to him the words of a young lady not of his acquaintance,
"How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!"
"How pleasant to know Mr. Lear!"
Who has written such volumes of stuff!
Some think him ill-tempered and queer,
But a few think him pleasant enough.
His mind is concrete and fastidious,
His nose is remarkably big;
His visage is more or less hideous,
His beard it resembles a wig.
He has ears, and two eyes, and ten fingers,
Leastways if you reckon two thumbs;
Long ago he was one of the singers,
But now he is one of the dumbs.