Edward Lear was the greatest nonsensicalist of all time. He was the inventor of the limerick and created the Jumblies and The Owl and the Pussycat. This complete edition of Lear's nonsense verse - including the limericks, longer verses, alphabets and his own illustrations - is lovingly restored and beautifully presented, for adults and children to enjoy together.

Edward Lear (1812-1888) is one of the best-loved of English poets. His comic invention and unconstrained sense of the absurd have been enjoyed by generations of children, and treasured by adults conscious of the subtle melancholy that underlies the fun. This collection includes all the favourite nonsense poems. Peter Swaab sets them alongside a generous selection from Lear's six travel books (including his three Journals of a Landscape Painter), first published between 1841 and 1870, and long out of print. For the first time Lear is presented as an adventurer, not only in the fabled lands of the Jumblies and the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo, but also in nineteenth-century Albania, Greece, Calabria and Corsica, where his encounters with the people and customs of these sometimes equally strange and challenging cultures are recorded with the same acute and rueful comic imagination.

The much-loved nonsense poem by Edward Lear, brought to life with charming illustrations. The fun rhymes, silly adventures and vibrant pictures are sure to amuse and entertain young children. A wonderful book to share and enjoy together.

The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, Calico Pie and The Pobble Who Has No Toes, together with Edward Lear's crazy limericks, have entertained adults and children alike for over 100 years. This edition, illustrated by the author, contains all the verse and stories of the Book of Nonsense, More Nonsense, Nonsense Songs, Nonsense Stories, Nonsense Alphabets and Nonsense Cookery. It has a biographical Preface by Lear himself, and concludes with some delightful 'heraldic' sketches of his cat, Foss.

The Stripy Bird. The Scroobius Bird. The Obsequious Ornamental Ostrich who wore boots to keep his feet quite dry. Of all the animals that sprang from the idiosyncratic imagination of Edward Lear, few feature as frequently as birds, which appear throughout his work, from the flamboyant flock in the Nonsense Alphabet to the quirky avian characters of his limericks, stories, and songs. Lear drew himself as a bird on numerous occasions. In a popular self-portrait-later reproduced on a postage stamp-Lear even represented himself as a portly, bespectacled bird. Edward Lear's Nonsense Birds collects more than sixty of Lear's bird illustrations from across his entire body of work. Often, the birds have hilariously human characteristics. There is, for instance, a Good-Natured Grey Gull, a Hasty Hen, and a Querulous Quail. The Judicious Jay is chiefly concerned with good grooming. The Vicious Vulture, meanwhile, turns out to be a wordsmith whose verses on vellum celebrate veal. Each bird is endowed with a unique personality, while collectively they form a wonderfully amusing flock. Also included are a series of twenty-four hand-colored illustrations. Bright and beautifully illustrated, this book will make a perfect gift for children of all ages and will also be welcomed by all who love Lear's work or are interested in learning more about his fascination with birds.

Edward Lear's classic poem, The Owl and the Pussy-cat, beautifully illustrated by Charlotte Voake and introduced with a foreword by Julia Donaldson The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat... Edward Lear's classic poem has delighted readers of all ages for generations. It is given new life by Charlotte Voake's exquisite illustrations in this beautiful new edition. Introduced by a foreword from world-renowned children's author and Lear devotee, Julia Donaldson, this is a book to be treasured by Lear fans both old and young. Be sure to look out for Julia Donaldson's sequel to this much-loved poem, The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-cat.

First published in 1846 under the pseudonym "Old Derry down Derry", A Book of Nonsense is a collection adapted from the limericks and illustrations Edward Lear created to amuse the grandchildren of Lord Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby, while he was staying with the family at Knowsley Hall. Embodying Lear's passion for nonsense, the limericks, each accompanied by one of Lear's beguiling original illustrations, are fun, lyrical, lively and hilarious, and have enchanted children and adults since their first appearance in the middle of the nineteenth century.

Full Length, Comedy

Characters: 1 male, 1 female

Interior Set

In a San Francisco loft, aspiring author Felix focuses his binoculars on a prostitute plying her trade. He complains to the landlord, has her evicted, and finds he has trouble pounding on his door in the form of Doris, not a prostitute but an aspiring "model and actress," thank you very much. She figures he owes her a bed for the night, an arrangement that leads to hilarity. Alan Alda and Diana Sands took the roles on Broadway, George Segal and Barbra Streisand on film.

"The first nighters laughed maniacally."-New York Daily News

"Animated, vivid, and comic (with) startling intensity and truth."-The New York Times

After a courtship voyage of a year and a day, Owl and Pussy finally buy a ring from Piggy and are blissfully married.

From the benighted Old man with a Beard to the erudite Perpendicular Purple Polly, Edward Lear's world is inhabited by a bewildering variety of oddities. Pelicans and parrots, seals and rhinoceroses and other queer creatures cavorted gaily with Dongs and Pobbles, not to mention the Quangle-Wangles! One of the world's most loved writers, Lear's verse has delighted whole generations of readers. Here, after 140 years, is the original edition of A Book of Nonsense, from the original publishers. It is both an object to be treasured and a feast of playfulness that will delight every reader. Complete with Lear's own remarkable illustrations - by turns surreal, hilarious and simply nonsensical - this treasure trove of nonsense is guaranteed to hold readers spellbound for generations more!

Owl sets out to woo Pussycat in a boat laden with fruit and with a guitar at his side, ready for serenading. Pussycat sits looking elegant and demure, waiting to be courted. But as they sail off across the sea, another love story unfolds in the clear water beneath the boat. "Brett sets Lear's beloved poem of courtly nonsense in a lush, brilliantly lit Caribbean landscape".--Booklist, starred review. Full color.

Edward Lear's delightful nonsense verse is as fresh and fun now as it has always been. This brilliant collection from 1900 is illustrated by the peerless L. Leslie Brooke. It contains: 'The Jumblies', 'The Owl and the Pussy-Cat', 'The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs', 'The Duck and the Kangaroo', 'The Cummerbund', 'The Dong with a Luminous Nose', 'The New Vestments', 'Calico Pie', 'The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo' and 'Incidents in the Life of my Uncle Arly'. This color version has been carefully typeset to keep as close to the original as possible, faithfully reproducing the detailed black-and-white drawings and the six high-quality full-page color plates.

Welcome to the world of Edward Lear! Wonderfully reissued in 2012 to celebrate the bicentenary of Edward Lear, this exquisitely-illustrated hardback is a classic in the making. John Vernon's Lord's stunning illustrations completely capture the spirit and satirical wit of Lear's work, conveying a lifelong enthusiasm for Lear's nonsense. 'Nonsense is the breath of my nostrils', wrote Edward Lear (1812-88) The perfect gift for both Lear fans and those discovering his work for the first time.