New Releases by Edward Lear

The incomparable Fred Marcellino brings a decidedly droll vision to three of Edward Lear’s classic tales in this three-in-one collection. With light-hearted, lavish illustrations, Caldecott Honoree Fred Marcellino makes the most—and more—of the fantasy and farce to a trio of Lear’s best tales: The New Vestments, The Pelican Chorus, and The Owl and the Pussycat. Three splendid picture books in one!

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Nonsense Drolleries by Edward 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. So wrote Edward Lear upon the first publication of these Nonsense Songs in 1871, and few poets indeed have captured the imagination of children as he has. His playful use of language, his celebration of the absurd, his love of pure nonsense have secured his place on the shelves of childhood libraries for generations. This new edition of his Nonsense Songs has all the favorites--the romantic "Owl and the Pussy-Cat" and the silly "Jumblics"--as well as many other rhymes that may be new to young readers--"The Pelican Chorus" and the hilarious "New Vestments." Newly commissioned illustrations by Jonathan Allen and an introduction by Naomi Lewis make this the edition of choice for a new generation of readers. His Waistcoat and Trousers were made of Pork Chops;-- His Buttons were Jujubes, and Chocolate Drops;-- Hi Coat was all Pancakes with Jam for a Border, And a girdle of Biscuits to keep it in order.

Edward Lear's much celebrated book of nonsense is here reproduced with all the original pictures and verse and two autobiographical letters by the author. Children and adults alike will delight in the Limerick's that here abound. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Edward Lear, born in 1812, was a British artist, illustrator, author, and poet, renowned today primarily for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form that he popularised. Lear produced the illustrated poetry collection Book of Nonsense (1846) for the Earl of Derby's grandchildren. His other works include Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets (1871), containing The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, and Laughable Lyrics (1877). This beautiful facsimile features a short introduction about Edward Lear, and how he refused to acknowledge the 'nonsense' work in the earlier years because he wanted to be taken seriously as a landscape artist. Following this is a replica of each page, featuring the letters of the alphabet with the short poem underneath each drawing. This will be accompained by the poem again, this time written in a more accessible font so that children may read this too. The Ashmolean recently acquired an 1860s edition of the Alphabet of Nonsense, and it is this original that they have utilised in order to recreate this stunning classic.

Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) was an English writer of nonsense, the most famous piece of which is The Owl and the Pussycat. He is also credited with popularizing the limerick, though there was some speculation as to whether his patron, the Earl of Derby, simply used Lear as a pseudonym for his own writings. Lear was also a successful illustrator and even spent some time tutoring Queen Victoria in drawing before his improper behaviour had him thrown out of court.

Edward Lear's poetry and prose celebrates the joy of living, and has influenced writers and illustrators from Terry Gilliam to Spike Milligan and Ricky Gervais. Although the subject and form of his works varies greatly, all of Lear's poems can be characterized by his irreverent view of the world, and many critics view Lear's nonsense books as his way of undermining the all-pervasive orderliness and industriousness of Victorian society. However, regardless of his inspiration or impetus, the appeal of Lear's poems and illustrations has proved timeless. Nonsense Botany and Nonsense Alphabets contains illustrations and pictorial depictions from Lear's incredible imagination of plants and creatures, with appropriate captions and lyrics. His strange botanical illustrations include Manypeeplia Upsidownia, Piggiwiggia Pyramidalis, and Pollybirdia Singularis, whilst the "Nonsense Alphabets" consist of three sets of illustrated alphabets which twist and turn around the most bizarre imagery and language.

Edward Lear (1812-1888) was an English artist, illustrator and writer known for his literary nonsense, in poetry and prose, and especially his limericks, a form which he popularised. He was born in Highgate, a suburb of London, the 20th child of his parents and was raised by his eldest sister, Ann, twenty-one years his senior. He started work as a serious illustrator and his first publication, at the age of 19, was Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae; or, Parrots in 1830. His paintings were well received and he was favourably compared with Audubon. Throughout his life he continued to paint seriously. He had a lifelong ambition to illustrate Tennyson's poems. Lear briefly gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria. In 1846 Lear published A Book of Nonsense, a volume of limericks which went through three editions and helped popularise the form. Edward Lear's nonsense works are distinguished by a facility of verbal invention and a poet's delight in the sounds of words, both real and imaginary.

An illustrated collection of twenty-four nonsensical poems by Edward Lear.

An illustrated collection of limericks by the well-known nineteenth-century English writer.

A collection of 236 limericks and other nonsense poems including "The Owl and the Pussycat" as well as "The Nutcrackers and the Sugar Tongs."

All the animals gather to find out just what the Scroobious Pip is.

All nonsense limericks, zany alphabets, Owl and Pussycat, songs, nonsense botany, etc., illustrated by Lear.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Edward Lear's poetry and prose celebrates the joy of living, and has influenced writers and illustrators from Terry Gilliam to Spike Milligan and Ricky Gervais. Although the subject and form of his works varies greatly, all of Lear's poems can be characterized by his irreverent view of the world, and many critics view Lear's nonsense books as his way of undermining the all-pervasive orderliness and industriousness of Victorian society. However, regardless of his inspiration or impetus, the appeal of Lear's poems and illustrations has proved timeless. Nonsense Songs and Stories contains some of Lear's best-known poetry, as well as stories and songs about real and imagined creatures. Poems include "The Owl and the Pussycat," "The Jumblies," "Calico Pie," and the stories are "The Story of the Four Little Children Who Went Round the World" and the "History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple."

Illustrated limericks, by Edward Lear; lithographed throughout. The copy described by Field comprises the two illustrated title leaves and 70 illustrated leaves of verse. Schiller (p. 117) describes 72 probable illustrated leaves of verse (in addition to the title leaves).