Category Archives: Edward Lear

Excelsior[H.W. Longfellow’s famous poem, Jams Thurber’s illustrated version, and a “Parody” attributed to Edward Lear. One of these days I am going to publish a scan of the manuscript, in the State Library of Victoria.]

Don’t be so beastly! There was a time when you could sing, ‘I love little pussy, her coat is so warm’ without fear of innuendo. There was no pun intended when Edward Lear wrote, ‘O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my … Continue reading →

Four larks and a wren EDWARD Lear was no doubt thinking of the famous skylark of England, two pairs having nests in his beard. The UK has three lark species and Africa has 80% of all the world’s 75 lark … Continue reading →

Utter Nonsense A nice general introduction to Lear for the Brazilian edition of Speak Up, a magazine for foreign students of English.

The height of nonsense In 1886, the redoubtable Victorian critic John Ruskin was invited by the Pall Mall Gazette of London to draw up a “List of the Best Hundred Authors.” His top choice wasn’t quite what the Gazette’s high-minded … Continue reading →

Edward Lear, by Jackie Wullschlager … His fantastical characters mirror the passage of his own life. The Yonghy Bonghy Bo’s hilarious courtship of Lady Jingly Jones parallels his own failed attempts at proposing to a female friend who might have … Continue reading →

Ridiculous rhymes From the familiar “runcible spoon” and “hills of the Chankly Bore” to previously unpublished letters, this is an irresistible collection of Edward Lear’s poetry, prose and illustrations. Three alphabets introduce even the very youngest listeners or readers to … Continue reading →

Nonsense Songs and Stories by Edward LearNonsense Songs and Stories by Edward Lear, reviewed in the Guardian, July 19 1888.Guardian Unlimited Books | Review

Pea Green Boat “This is my first mid-30s, pretentious one-man show,” says Stewart Lee in an apologetic intro to Pea Green Boat. This isn’t stand-up, he warns, so prepare not to laugh. The preamble promises some daring dramatic experiment. In … Continue reading →

An Edward Lear Society?, An e-mail from Vivien Noakes Dear Learites,Kenneth Oultram, who lives in Cheshire, is hoping to organise an Edward Lear Society, since none exists. He has called an inaugural meeting this Saturday, September 7th, at the Walker … Continue reading →