Books with title Coffee and Repartee by John Kendrick Bangs, Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends

ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR JENKINSPetty larceny, that is.It's in his blood you, see. His name is Raffles Holmes. His grandfather is none other than the Victorian gentleman criminal A.J. Raffles. His father? None other than Sherlock Holmes.Half of him wants to rob the rich blind. Half of him wants to solve mysteries.And all of him wants to make money, by selling his misadventures to the reading public with a writer named Jenkins.Result: Hilarious stories.Stories like "Adventure of the Missing Pendants" -- in which R. Holmes uses nefarious methods and deductive reasoning to restore purloined jewelry."Adventure of the Brass Check" -- In which Raffle Holmes brings along Jenkins to help him with the temptation of stealing a priceless rope of pearls."Adventure of a Hired Burglar" -- in which a robbery is committed for highly noble purposes."The Redemption of Young Billington Rand" -- in which Raffles Holmes saves a man from himself by robbing him like a highwayman.

American John Kendrick Bangs created a subgenre of modern literature -- Bangsian fantasy, it's called, a form fantasy set at least partly in the afterlife. Born in Yonkers, New York, he went to Columbia University (where he edited the school's literary magazine) and went on to work as an editor -- on Life magazine, and later at Harper's Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Munsey's Magazine, New Metropolitan, and Puck, which was then the foremost American humor magazine.

As the gods' guest, he learns just what the immortal divinities are up to in modern times, with hilarious results. Bangs portrays the gods going about their duties and personal affairs in the terms of American high society, with all the elegance, archness, wit, jealousy, and pettiness of the idle rich. Mythic grandeur and modern wit prove a perfect fit in this sharp satire.

Tom was nearly asleep upon that bearskin rug in front of the blazing fire, staring at the two great brazen Andirons that stood in the fireplace. They had big, round, good-natured faces, shining like gold. Their necks were slight and graceful, but as they rounded downward toward handsome feet. They looked very much like a pair of amiable sea serpents.The logs were burning fiercely and at first Tom thought that the words he heard spoken were nothing but their crackling and hissing -- but then the "Lefthandiron" -- as Tom's uncle once called it -- winked his eye at Tom!"Hullo, Sleepyhead," said the Andiron.Tom returned the wink -- too much surprised to say anything to this inanimate object suddenly coming to life!

Tom was nearly asleep upon that bearskin rug in front of the blazing fire, staring at the two great brazen Andirons that stood in the fireplace. They had big, round, good-natured faces, shining like gold. Their necks were slight and graceful, but as they rounded downward toward handsome feet. They looked very much like a pair of amiable sea serpents.The logs were burning fiercely and at first Tom thought that the words he heard spoken were nothing but their crackling and hissing -- but then the "Lefthandiron" -- as Tom's uncle once called it -- winked his eye at Tom!"Hullo, Sleepyhead," said the Andiron.Tom returned the wink -- too much surprised to say anything to this inanimate object suddenly coming to life!

ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR JENKINSPetty larceny, that is.It's in his blood you, see. His name is Raffles Holmes. His grandfather is none other than the Victorian gentleman criminal A.J. Raffles. His father? None other than Sherlock Holmes.Half of him wants to rob the rich blind. Half of him wants to solve mysteries.And all of him wants to make money, by selling his misadventures to the reading public with a writer named Jenkins.Result: Hilarious stories.Stories like "Adventure of the Missing Pendants" -- in which R. Holmes uses nefarious methods and deductive reasoning to restore purloined jewelry."Adventure of the Brass Check" -- In which Raffle Holmes brings along Jenkins to help him with the temptation of stealing a priceless rope of pearls."Adventure of a Hired Burglar" -- in which a robbery is committed for highly noble purposes."The Redemption of Young Billington Rand" -- in which Raffles Holmes saves a man from himself by robbing him like a highwayman.

American John Kendrick Bangs created a subgenre of modern literature -- Bangsian fantasy, it's called, a form fantasy set at least partly in the afterlife. Born in Yonkers, New York, he went to Columbia University (where he edited the school's literary magazine) and went on to work as an editor -- on Life magazine, and later at Harper's Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Munsey's Magazine, New Metropolitan, and Puck, which was then the foremost American humor magazine.

As the gods' guest, he learns just what the immortal divinities are up to in modern times, with hilarious results. Bangs portrays the gods going about their duties and personal affairs in the terms of American high society, with all the elegance, archness, wit, jealousy, and pettiness of the idle rich. Mythic grandeur and modern wit prove a perfect fit in this sharp satire.