Books with title Nonsense Novels

Nonsense Novels was first published in 1920 yet a century later remains a huge favorite among Stephen Leacock fans. The British-born Canadian writer was renowned for his humor, and Nonsense Novels epitomizes both this skill and his mastery of the ridiculous. From an ill-fated Middle Ages romance to the dubious skills of a pitiful private eye and the happy outcome of a generations-old Scottish feud, Nonsense Novels is a tremendous listen.

This collection includes 18 humorous tales by Stephen Leacock. At the beginning of the 20th century he was the most widely read English-speaking author in the world. Stephen Leacock is known for his light humor along with criticisms of people's follies. There is even Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humor, which was named in his honor.The collection includes the following "Nonsense Novels":MADDENED BY MYSTERY: OR, THE DEFECTIVE DETECTIVE"Q." A PSYCHIC PSTORY OF THE PSUPERNATURALGUIDO THE GIMLET OF GHENT: A ROMANCE OF CHIVALRYGERTRUDE THE GOVERNESS: OR, SIMPLE SEVENTEENA HERO IN HOMESPUN: OR, THE LIFE STRUGGLE OF HEZEKIAH HAYLOFTSORROWS OF A SUPER SOUL: OR, THE MEMOIRS OF MARIE MUSHENOUGHHANNAH OF THE HIGHLANDS: OR, THE LAIRD OF LOCH AUCHERLOCHERTYSOAKED IN SEAWEED: OR, UPSET IN THE OCEANCAROLINE'S CHRISTMAS: OR, THE INEXPLICABLE INFANTTHE MAN IN ASBESTOS: AN ALLEGORY OF THE FUTUREWINSOME WINNIE; OR, TRIAL AND TEMPTATIONJOHN AND I; OR, HOW I NEARLY LOST MY HUSBANDTHE SPLIT IN THE CABINET; OR, THE FATE OF ENGLANDWHO DO YOU THINK DID IT? OR, THE MIXED-UP MURDER MYSTERYBROKEN BARRIERS; OR, RED LOVE ON A BLUE ISLANDTHE KIDNAPPED PLUMBER: A TALE OF THE NEW TIMETHE BLUE AND THE GREY: A PRE-WAR WAR STORYBUGGAM GRANGE: A GOOD OLD GHOST STORY

Written by the inimitable Stephen Leacock, and this edition illustrated by the illustrious illustrator John Kettelwell, Nonsense Novels shows the full prowess of both artists. Originally published in 1921, this book has several slightly hilarious tales:CONTENTSI. Maddened by Mystery: or, The Defective DetectiveII. "Q." A Psychic Pstory of the PsupernaturalIII. Guido the Gimlet of Ghent: A Romance of ChivalryIV. Gertrude the Governess: or, Simple SeventeenV. A Hero in Homespun: or, The Life Struggle of Hezekiah HayloftVI. Sorrows of a Super Soul: or, The Memoirs of Marie MushenoughVII. Hannah of the Highlands: or, The Laird of Loch AucherlochertyVIII. Soaked in Seaweed: or, Upset in the OceanIX. Caroline's Christmas: or, The Inexplicable InfantX. The Man in Asbestos: an Allegory of the FutureStephen P. H. Butler Leacock FRSC (1869 – 1944) was a Canadian teacher, political scientist, writer, and humorist. Between the years 1915 and 1925, he was the best-known English-speaking humorist in the world. He is known for his light humor along with criticisms of people's follies. The Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humor was named in his honor.

Nonsense Novels by Stephen Leacock is a classic collection of hilarious literary satires which jaunts from genre to genre, gleeful mysteries, ghost stories, detective novels, and almost every other type of fiction you can imagine. Any profits generated from the sale of this book will go towards the Freeriver Community project, a project designed to promote harmonious community living and well-being in the world. To learn more about the Freeriver project please visit the website - www.freerivercommunity.com

I. — Maddened by Mystery: or, The Defective Detective THE great detective sat in his office. He wore a long green gown and half a dozen secret badges pinned to the outside of it. Three or four pairs of false whiskers hung on a whisker-stand beside him. Goggles, blue spectacles and motor glasses lay within easy reach. He could completely disguise himself at a second's notice. Half a bucket of cocaine and a dipper stood on a chair at his elbow. His face was absolutely impenetrable. A pile of cryptograms lay on the desk. The Great Detective hastily tore them open one after the other, solved them, and threw them down the cryptogram-shute at his side. There was a rap at the door. The Great Detective hurriedly wrapped himself in a pink domino, adjusted a pair of false black whiskers and cried, "Come in." His secretary entered. "Ha," said the detective, "it is you!" He laid aside his disguise.

A gift? Yes-a gift for you. You're welcome.—from the introduction by Daniel HandlerNonsense Novels sends up the silliest conventions of the ghost story, the detective story, the rags-to-riches story, the adventure story, the shipwreck story, and, of course, the story itself. Among other things. Here the close cultivation of cliché yields a bumper crop of absurdity and the utterly ludicrous turns up at every new twist of the tale.This is a satirical masterpiece. Stephen Leacock was a genius.

This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!

Nonsense Novels sends up the silliest conventions of the ghost story, the detective story, the rags-to-riches story, the adventure story, the shipwreck story, and, of course, the story itself. Among other things. Here the close cultivation of cliche yields a bumper crop of absurdity and the utterly ludicrous turns up at every new twist of the tale.About the AuthorStephen Butler Leacock, Ph.D , FRSC (30 December 1869 - 28 March 1944) was a Canadian writer and economist.Born in Swanmore, Hampshire, England, at age six Leacock and his family moved to Canada, settling on a farm in Egypt, Ontario, near the shores of Lake Simcoe. While the family had been comfortable in England, the farm in Georgina Township of York County was not a success and Leacock's family was quite poor. His father Peter suffered from alcoholism, becoming a violent alcoholic.Leacock, always of obvious intelligence, was sent to the elite private school of Upper Canada College in Toronto, where he was top of the class and so popular he was chosen as head boy. His father left the house in 1887 and never returned. The same year, seventeen year-old Leacock started at University College at the University of Toronto, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity, but found he could not resume the following year due to financial difficulties.He left university to earn money as a schoolteacher - a job he disliked immensely - at Strathroy, Uxbridge and finally in Toronto. As a teacher at Upper Canada College, his alma mater, he was able to simultaneously attend classes at the University of Toronto and, in 1891, earn his degree through part-time studies. It was during this period that his first writing was published in The Varsity, a campus newspaper. (Quote from wikipedia.org)

Stephen Leacock was a genius. Yes; genius. Critics are hesitant about using this word, but if it means a capacity for imaginative creation so extraordinary as sometimes to rise above what can be produced by the conscious exertion of an unusually gifted man, that was what Leacock had. If, in the realm of writing, it means individuality so striking as to provoke the admiration, envy and imitation of men themselves finely gifted…certainly Leacock had genius. — Robertson Davies It is an understatement to regard Leacock purely as a funmaker. The often veiled satire of his nonsense reveals a sound philosophy. He is a keen critic who, like Lewis Carroll, wraps his deeper meaning in a mantle of mirth. — The New York Times Canadian humorist with more than 30 volumes of witty and entertaining works to his name. Leacock was also an economist, educator and a political scientist. His best writings are notable for their comical and tongue-in-cheek humour. Leacock's family emigrated to Canada when he was six years old. His essays, short stories and sketches have earned him international repute. His most famous works include Literary Lapses (1910), Nonsense Novels (1911), and Moonbeams from the Larger Lunacy (1915). Leacock also penned several books on economics and political science. His biographies of Mark Twain (1932) and Charles Dickens (1933) are regarded as works of high standing. His incomplete autobiography, The Boy I Left Behind Me, was published posthumously in 1946.