There Once Was a Limerick Anthology: Lewis Carroll, Robert Frost, Edward Lear, Mark Twain, Carolyn Wells, Woodrow Wilson and Others
Edited by Michael Croland
Dover Publications, 2022
“The selected limericks include many clever and witty examples . . . . If you’re a fan of the form, this book is definitely worth reading.” —The Introverted Yogi
“An educational and useful ode to the perennial humble limerick. . . . This is not just a great anthology of limericks by famous poets. It’s also a well written introduction and deconstruction of the form; explaining the form and function of the stanzas, each line, and some background history. I have been a lifelong lover of the lowly limerick and enjoyed this collection very much.” —Nonstop Reader
Humor buffs and poetry lovers will laugh out loud with this captivating collection of more than 350 limericks. A limerick is a five-line rhyming poem with a bouncy rhythm, and common varieties include geographical and bawdy limericks as well as tongue twisters and creative misspellings. Limerick legends Morris Bishop, Edward Lear, and Carolyn Wells are featured, as are renowned leaders, poets, and writers such as Lewis Carroll, Robert Frost, James Joyce, Mark Twain, and Woodrow Wilson. With selections from the Elizabethan era, classics from the golden age, and contemporary verse, this irresistible, rib-tickling anthology has something for everyone.
Travel the world with a man from Nantucket and a young lady of Niger. Explore the animal kingdom with a fly and a flea in a flue and a pelican with food stuffed in his beak. Experience the mundane, such as a tooting tutor tutoring two tooters, and the peculiar, including walking around a room that has no floor.
Michael Croland is the author of Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk, Punk Rock Hora: Adventures in Jew-Punk Land, Air to the Throne: A Poetry Chapbook about Air Guitar, and Celtic Punk Superfan: Recaps & Reflections Chapbook, 2002–22.
#1 New Release in 4 Amazon categories: Contemporary Poetry, Poetry Anthologies, Limericks & Humorous Verse, and Two-Hour Humor & Entertainment Short Reads
“The collection includes a little history lesson about how the form developed and who helped make it famous—and plenty of laughs, as this form is meant to be funny. I enjoyed it, and anyone who likes this form will have fun with it.” —Lanette Sweeney, author of What I Should Have Said: A Poetry Memoir about Losing a Child to Addiction
“This book was not only fun but educational. . . . Pages and pages of great limericks that will make you laugh. I like the funny ones the best but they all are so entertaining; this is the type of stuff I absolutely love to read and I’m so glad I did!” —5-star review on Goodreads
“In a world full of stress, negativity, and unhappiness, this little book could be a life saver. I have smiled, chuckled, and laughed out loud until my sides ached. Because it is composed of individual limericks, I can read as many or as few as time permits. The introduction which gives a brief history of the limerick was interesting, but the limericks themselves are priceless. Do yourself a favor and get this book!” —5-star review on Amazon
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Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Edward Lear
Geographical Limericks
What’s in a Name?
Quotations
Creative Misspellings
Creative Abbreviations
Tongue Twisters
Famous Authorship
Bawdy Limericks
Miscellany
Epilogue: The Tradition Continues
Selected Bibliography