Guy Wetmore Carryl

Born in New York City in 1873, Guy Wetmore Carryl was an American humorist, poet, and novelist remembered for turning familiar stories upside down with quick wit and comic style. He was the son of writer Charles Edward Carryl, studied at Columbia University, and began publishing while still quite young.

Carryl is best known for humorous verse that spoofs Aesop, Mother Goose, and other well-known tales. Collections such as Fables for the Frivolous, Grimm Tales Made Gay, and Mother Goose for Grown-Ups show his gift for playful language, clever reversals, and a gently mocking view of human foolishness.

His life was short—he died in 1904, at just 31—but his work has lasted because it is both literary and easy to enjoy. Readers who like classic humor, comic verse, and inventive retellings often find him an especially charming rediscovery.