
A rainy afternoon leaves a restless young girl confined to a nursery while the world outside drifts into monotony. With her books read and toys idle, she wishes for an adventure, only to be startled when familiar, eccentric companions—an ever‑grinning cat, a bewildered hat‑maker, a hurried hare, and a dashing knight—materialize on the radiator. Their sudden arrival turns her boredom into curiosity, and they speak of a peculiar place that has taken shape beyond imagination.
They invite her to explore a newly‑conceived city, a whimsical experiment where municipal rules and everyday logic are turned upside down. As she steps through an unseen portal, she discovers a landscape populated by absurd institutions, playful bureaucracy, and surreal characters who mirror the quirks of modern life. The journey promises witty commentary, gentle satire, and the delight of seeing a familiar world reshaped through the eyes of a child who never stops asking “what if?
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (92K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Annie McGuire
Release date
2009-02-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1862–1922
A witty American humorist and editor, he turned ghosts, celebrities, and the afterlife into playgrounds for clever satire. His light, imaginative style became so distinctive that an entire kind of fantasy comedy came to be called "Bangsian" fantasy.
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