
audiobook
by S. J. Adair (Shafto Justin Adair) Fitz-Gerald
The Zankiwank - and - The Bletherwitch
An Original Fantastic Fairy Extravaganza
The ZANKIWANK & The BLETHERWITCH - BY S.J. ADAIR FITZGERALD WITH PICTURES BY ARTHUR RACKHAM - LONDON J.M. DENT & CO. ALDINE HOUSE E.C. 1896
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
A Trip to Fable Land
The Fairies' Feather and Flower Land
A Visit to Shadow Land
The Land of Topsy Turvey
A mischievous troupe led by the flamboyantly odd Zankiwank and his companion, the enigmatic Bletherwitch, sets off from a deserted Charing Cross station. Their impromptu train—chartered by the Zankiwank himself—carries a motley crew of children, talking animals, and fanciful beings into the uncharted realm of Fable Land. The opening scenes swirl with absurdity and charm, as the group confronts talking clocks, dancing winnywegs, and a parade of fairies leaping from flower petals.
The narrative unfolds in a kaleidoscopic style, peppered with vivid illustrations that bring creatures like the Jackarandajam, Mr Swinglebinks, and Queen Titania’s court to life. Whimsical dialogues and playful riddles invite listeners to linger in a world where imagination rules and ordinary rules melt away. The tone is light‑hearted yet wondrous, promising a delightful romp through enchanted forests, talking rivers, and puzzling riddles.
So far, the adventure is just beginning: the travelers tumble into shadowy groves, meet mischievous goblins on horseback, and tease the very weather itself. Listeners are beckoned to follow their curious steps, sharing in the bewildering, joyous chaos of a truly original fairy extravaganza.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (115K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Aug 17, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1859–1925
A lively late-Victorian writer with a flair for theater, fantasy, and music, he moved from the stage into journalism and went on to publish fairy tales, criticism, and popular cultural histories. He is especially remembered for the imaginative children's book The Zankiwank and the Bletherwitch, illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
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