Complete Nonsense [antikvár]

PREFACE Edward Lear must always be regarded as one of the most curious figures in English literature. He secured a permanent niche in the Temple of Fame by what he regarded as a mere pastime, till the literary world of the nineteenth century proclaimed its delight in it. He is known as the father of English 'Nonsense', but his serious ambition and what he regarded as his serious work was landscape painting. Bom in 1812, Lear was not twenty years of age when he was invited by the Earl of Derby to stay at Knowsley to paint the collection of birds there. He remained at Knowsley four years, and it was during that period that he wrote the nonsensical limericks, illustrated with pen drawings, to amuse the juvenile members of the Earl's family. They were dashed off at odd moments, and so little did he think of them that they were not published till ten years later- 1846. Then the reception accorded to them was extraordinary. All sorts of rumours got about as to their authorship, this being ascribed to Lord Brougham, Lord Derby and others, and attempts were made to read into them political and personal references. But Lear's fantastic absurdities are as void of sjmibolic meaning as they are of vulgarity and cynicism; they are nonsense pure and simple, and that is their charm. In later years Lear issued several additional volumes, forsaking the limerick for songs and lyrics, and even prose, but never losing the whimsicality that was new in English letters. He died in 1888, and in his long Ufe had several striking tributes paid to him. He was placed by Ruskin at the head of his list of the hundred best authors, and Tennyson, while Poet Laureate, wrote