Humour

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll: Alice falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar and anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic in ways that have given the story lasting popularity with adults as well as children. It is considered to be one of the most characteristic examples of the genre of literary nonsense.

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens: A picaresque novel, relating the adventures of the members of the Pickwick Club: Mr. Samuel Pickwick, Mr. Nathaniel Winkle, Mr. Augustus Snodgrass, and Mr. Tracy Tupman. Each character in The Pickwick Papers is drawn comically, often with exaggerated personalities. Alfred Jingle provides an aura of comic villainy. His misadventures repeatedly land the Pickwickians in trouble. These include Jingle's elopement with the spinster, Aunt Rachael of Dingley Dell manor, misadventures with Dr. Slammer, and others.

The Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear:
There was a Young Lady whose chin,
Resembled the point of a pin:
So she had it made sharp,
And purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.
More poems by Edward Lear (coming soon)

Beasts and super-beasts, by Saki (H H Munro): “For instance, he took it into his head that Matilda Sheringham was the Prophet Elijah. He absolutely declined to interfere with what he imagined to be Matilda’s private catering arrangements, wouldn’t allow any tea to be sent up to her in the morning, and if he was waiting at table he passed her over in handing round the dishes.”

More books by Saki

Three men in a boat, by Jerome K Jerome: "You never saw such a commotion in all your life, as when my Uncle Podger undertook to do a job. Uncle Podger would
say: "Oh, you leave that to ME." And then he would take off his coat, and begin. He would send the girl out for sixpen'orth of nails, and then one of the boys after her to tell her what size to get; and, from that, he would gradually work down, and start the whole house.

The Golfer's Rubaiyat, by H. W. Boynton:

A BAG of Clubs, a Silver-Town or two,
A Flask of Scotch, a Pipe of Shag—and Thou
Beside me caddying in the Wilderness—
Ah, Wilderness were Paradise enow.

Literary Lapses, by Stephen Leacock: "Love had drawn them together. To Edwin the fair English girl with her old name and wide estates had a charm that he scarcely dared confess to himself. He determined to woo her. To Gwendoline Edwin's bearing, the rich jewels that he wore, the vast fortune that rumour ascribed to him, appealed to something romantic and chivalrous in her nature. She loved to hear him speak of stocks and bonds, corners and margins, and his father's colossal business."

More books by Leacock (coming soon)

The Importance of being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde: Algernon. Well, my own dear, sweet, loving little darling, I really can’t see why you should object to the name of Algernon. It is rather an aristocratic name. Half the chaps who get into the Bankruptcy Court are called Algernon. But seriously, Cecily . . . [Moving to her] . . . if my name was Algy, couldn’t you love me? Cecily. [Rising.] I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear that I should not be able to give you my undivided attention.