VI.—HUMOROUS BOOKS.
The word “humour” is used here in a wide sense to cover wit and comicality or broad comedy, as well as humour in the strict sense of the word. The present list is not a selection of the best samples of Irish humour. It merely brings together a number of books which are entirely or mainly of a humorous character. Humour of a greatly superior order is often to be found here and there in books of a predominantly serious purpose—in My New Curate, for instance, or in Knocknagow.
O’Donoghue, D. J. THE HUMOUR OF IRELAND.
MacDonagh, Michael. IRISH LIFE AND CHARACTER.
Harvey, W. IRISH LIFE AND HUMOUR.
Kennedy, Patrick. THE BOOK OF MODERN IRISH ANECDOTES.
Lever, Charles. A DAY’S RIDE.
⸺ THE DODD FAMILY ABROAD.
The rollicking novels of Lever’s earlier manner might all be included here.
Lover, Samuel. HANDY ANDY.
⸺ FURTHER STORIES OF IRELAND.
MacManus, Seumas. THE LEADIN’ ROAD TO DONEGAL.
⸺ THE HUMOURS OF DONEGAL.
⸺ ’TWAS IN DHROLL DONEGAL.
⸺ DOCTOR KILGANNON.
Downey, Edmund. THROUGH GREEN GLASSES.
⸺ GREEN AS GRASS.
⸺ FROM THE GREEN BAG.
And most of his other books; see [pp. 75-77].
Bodkin, M. M’D. PAT O’ NINE TALES.
⸺ POTEEN PUNCH.
⸺ PATSY THE OMADHAUN.
“Heblon.” STUDIES IN BLUE.
Dunne, F. P. THE DOOLEY BOOKS.
Archer, Patrick. THE HUMOURS OF SHANWALLA.
Doyle, Lynn. BALLYGULLION.
McIlroy, Archibald. THE HUMOUR OF DRUID’S ISLAND.
Moran, J. J. IRISH STEW.
⸺ IRISH DROLLERIES.
Birmingham, G. A. SPANISH GOLD.
⸺ THE MAJOR’S NIECE.
And those of his books that are mentioned on [pp. 28 and 29].
Crane, Stephen, and Barr, Robert. THE O’RUDDY.
O’Donovan, Michael. MR. MULDOON.
Wright, R. H. THE SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF MY FRIEND PATRICK DEMPSEY.
Gill, M. H. & Co., Publ. IRISH PLEASANTRY AND FUN.
Lyttle, W. G.; “Robin.” ROBIN’S READINGS.
Maginn, Wm. MISCELLANIES.
Fitzgerald, Rev. T. A. HOMESPUN YARNS.
⸺ FITS AND STARTS.
Harkin, Hugh. THE QUARTERCLIFT.
Blenkinsop, A. PADDIANA.
Conyers, Dorothea. Most of her sporting novels are humorous. See [pp. 55 sqq.]
Rogers, R. D. THE ADVENTURES OF ST. KEVIN.
Roche, Hon. Alexis. JOURNEYINGS WITH JERRY THE JARVEY.
Langridge, Rosamund. IMPERIAL RICHENDA.
Jebb, Horsley. SPORT ON IRISH BOGS.
⸺ THE IRISH BUBBLE AND SQUEAK.
There are some humorous stories in Lefanu’s “Purcell Papers” that make us regret that he did not give us more in the same vein. Carleton’s “Stories” are a miscellany containing episodes of the wildest fun amid much that is gloomy, and scenes of pleasant and kindly humour interspersed with traits of savagery and of fanaticism.