Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, December 12, 1891

audiobook

Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, December 12, 1891

by Various Authors

EN·~56 minutes·16 chapters

Chapters

16 total

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. - Vol. 101.

0:02

December 12, 1891.

0:01

LETTERS TO ABSTRACTIONS. - NO. VIII.—TO LAZINESS.

12:14

RUSTICUS EXPECTANS; - Or, the New Dumbledumdeary.

5:23

"DICK" POWER.

1:25

ONLY FANCY!

2:03

THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS. - No. XVIII.

4:02

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

5:05

TO EVANGELINE.

1:32

KATHLEEN AND PETRUCHIO; - OR, SHAKSPEARE BALFOURISED.

7:19

Description

A delightfully tongue‑in‑cheek essay opens with a mock‑serious “letter” to the very concept of Laziness, turning the abstract into a witty correspondent. The narrator confesses a parade of unfinished tasks—unanswered postcards from a distant friend, missed social visits, and looming deadlines—while praising idleness as a noble guardian against the drudgery of duty. Through exaggerated self‑indulgence and playful hyperbole, the piece lampoons the Victorian preoccupation with industry and propriety, inviting listeners to chuckle at the protagonist’s endless rationalizations for procrastination.

Interwoven with sly references to well‑known literary figures and a caricatured barrister named Figtree, the satire gleefully exposes how even the most “industrious” of society can be glorified for their sloth. Its brisk, conversational rhythm and witty asides capture the spirit of a bygone era while delivering timeless humor about the human tendency to delay, making it a charmingly relatable listen for anyone who’s ever put off a simple task.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~56 minutes (54K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Malcolm Farmer, William Flis, and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Release date

Nov 26, 2004

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

VA

Various Authors

A shared byline for collections that bring together multiple voices, genres, and perspectives in one listening experience.

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