The Bashful Earthquake, & Other Fables and Verses

audiobook

The Bashful Earthquake, & Other Fables and Verses

by Oliver Herford

EN·~1 hours·51 chapters

Chapters

51 total

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

1:50

The Bashful Earthquake

1:57

The Bashful Earthquake

1:49

The Lovesick Scarecrow

1:10

The Music of the Future

0:49

SONG.

0:08

THE DOORLESS WOLF.

1:27

The Bold Bad Butterfly

2:27

CRUMBS.

0:37

Japanesque

0:46
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Description

A modest collection of whimsical verses and sprightly fables invites listeners into a world where even the smallest creatures and grandest ideas share the same stage. The poetry swings between gentle humor and thoughtful observation, using playful rhythms that echo the cadence of an old‑time raconteur. Lighthearted illustrations accompany the words, adding a visual charm that deepens the listening experience.

Among the pieces, a shy earthquake stumbles through city streets, clumsily knocking over palaces before seeking refuge beside a dreaming dormouse. The encounter unfolds with self‑deprecating wit, as the tremor apologizes in broken grammar and learns a quiet lesson about humility. The narrative’s gentle pacing allows the absurdity to breathe, turning a potential disaster into a modest, endearing confession.

Throughout the anthology, familiar motifs—scarecrows, butterflies, wandering wolves—are reimagined with clever twists and succinct moral hints. Listeners will find a blend of clever wordplay and warm imagination that makes each poem feel like a brief, delightful conversation with an old friend.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (70K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Edwards, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Books project.)

Release date

Mar 18, 2018

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Oliver Herford

Oliver Herford

1863–1935

Known for witty little poems, sharp one-liners, and charming drawings, this Anglo-American humorist brought a light, playful touch to both children's verse and grown-up satire. His work mixes nonsense, elegance, and a gently mischievous sense of fun.

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