Mirth and metre

The volume opens with a tongue‑in‑cheek preface that declares its ambition to follow in the mischievous footsteps of the famed Ingoldsby Legends. Its pages are filled with short, jaunty poems and prose‑tales that blend the supernatural with everyday folly, all rendered in a lively, sing‑song metre that invites a smile as often as a shiver. From haunted halls and mournful funerals to mischievous cats ruling riverside kingdoms, each piece balances wit with a touch of the uncanny, making the collection feel both timeless and oddly contemporary.

In the first story a solemn funeral procession for Sir Reginald Allinghame sets the stage for a legend of love, loss, and unexpected heirs, while later numbers transport listeners to a Rhine‑dwelling monarch of cats, a daring dragon duel, and a clever wager that tests a gambler’s wits. Illustrated by M’Connell, the work’s vivid imagery and clever rhymes bring these eccentric characters to life, offering a charming escape into a world where humor and the supernatural dance together.