Front matter
Reading edition
NONSENSE BOOKS By Edward Lear. With all the Original Illustrations. 1894. 1894 Covers— Click for larger versions. Nonsense Books "How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear" Introduction I. A Book of Nonsense. Dedication Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures II. Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets. Nonsense Songs Nonsense Stories Nonsense Botany Nonsense Alphabets III. More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc. Introduction Nonsense Botany One Hundred Nonsense Pictures and Rhymes Twenty-six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures IV. Laughable Lyrics: A Fresh Book of Nonsense Poems, Songs, Botany, etc. Laughable Lyrics. Nonsense Botany Nonsense Alphabets Index (added 2004) By First Lines Nonsense Alphabets Nonsense Botanies Nonsense Songs and Stories 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.
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,