
A BOOK OF BURLESQUES By H. L. MENCKEN
I.—DEATH I.—Death. A Philosophical Discussion
II.—FROM THE PROGRAMME OF A CONCERT II.—From The Programme of a Concert
III.—THE WEDDING III.—The Wedding. A Stage Direction
IV.—THE VISIONARY IV.—The Visionary
V.—THE ARTIST V.—The Artist. A Drama Without Words
VI.—SEEING THE WORLD VI.—Seeing The World
VII.—FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE DEVIL VII.—From the Memoirs of the Devil
VIII.—LITANIES FOR THE OVERLOOKED VIII.—Litanies for the Overlooked
IX.—ASEPSIS IX.—Asepsis. A Deduction in Scherzo Form
A lively assortment of short, theatrical sketches invites listeners into a world where the ordinary is turned into sharp, comic performance. From a tongue‑in‑cheek “Philosophical Discussion” on death staged in a dimly lit parlor to a mock‑serious “Visionary” and a word‑free “Artist” piece, each work is framed like a brief play, complete with stage directions, dialogue and occasional verse. The humor is rooted in the everyday—pallbearers muttering about sudden loss, a wedding reduced to a terse cue sheet, and a satirical take on music and medicine—allowing the listener to hear familiar scenes echo with absurdity.
The collection moves through a range of tones, from dry, observational wit to lively, almost musical passages that play with rhythm and form. Its eclectic mix of dialogues, monologues and free‑verse glimpses provides a snapshot of early‑twentieth‑century culture, all filtered through a sharply comedic lens that rewards attentive ears and a taste for the unexpected.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (170K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2007-07-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1880–1956
Known for his sharp wit and fearless opinions, this Baltimore journalist and critic became one of the most recognizable American voices of the early 20th century. His writing mixed satire, reporting, and cultural criticism in a way that still feels lively and provocative.
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