A Book of Burlesques

audiobook

A Book of Burlesques

by H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken

EN·~2 hours·16 chapters

Chapters

16 total
1

A BOOK OF BURLESQUES By H. L. MENCKEN

1:16
2

I.—DEATH I.—Death. A Philosophical Discussion

7:34
3

II.—FROM THE PROGRAMME OF A CONCERT II.—From The Programme of a Concert

20:24
4

III.—THE WEDDING III.—The Wedding. A Stage Direction

22:30
5

IV.—THE VISIONARY IV.—The Visionary

10:16
6

V.—THE ARTIST V.—The Artist. A Drama Without Words

15:16
7

VI.—SEEING THE WORLD VI.—Seeing The World

23:39
8

VII.—FROM THE MEMOIRS OF THE DEVIL VII.—From the Memoirs of the Devil

12:28
9

VIII.—LITANIES FOR THE OVERLOOKED VIII.—Litanies for the Overlooked

9:17
10

IX.—ASEPSIS IX.—Asepsis. A Deduction in Scherzo Form

15:43

Description

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.

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Details

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

About the author

H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken

H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken

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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