E-text prepared by Dave Newman, Ben Courtney,
A. Deubelbeiss, Stan Goodman,
and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders

NONSENSE BOOKS

By Edward Lear.

With all the Original Illustrations.

1894.


1894 Covers— Click for larger versions.

PUBLISHERS' NOTICE:
The first "[Book of Nonsense]" was published in 1846. Three other volumes,—"[Nonsense Songs, Stories, etc.]," published in 1871; "[More Nonsense Pictures, etc.]," in 1872; and "[Laughable Lyrics: A Fresh Book of Nonsense, etc.]," in 1877,—comprise all the "Nonsense Books" written by Mr. Lear.

Surely the most beneficent and innocent of all books yet produced is the "Book of Nonsense," with its corollary carols, inimitable and refreshing, and perfect in rhythm. I really don't know any author to whom I am half so grateful for my idle self as Edward Lear. I shall put him first of my hundred authors.

—JOHN RUSKIN,
In the "List of the Best Hundred Authors."


EDWARD LEAR
Engraved by Andrew From a Photograph Taken In San Remo, by Roncarolo.

Surely the most beneficent and innocent of all books yet produced is the "Book of Nonsense," with its corollary carols, inimitable and refreshing, and perfect in rhythm. I really don't know any author to whom I am half so grateful for my idle self as Edward Lear. I shall put him first of my hundred authors.

The following lines by Mr. Lear were written for a young lady of his acquaintance, who had quoted to him the words of a young lady not of his acquaintance,