
audiobook
The collection gathers the sharpest, most affectionate spoofs of English‑ and American‑language classics, turning celebrated verses and dramatic lines into clever commentary. Each piece is presented with careful notes that point back to the original work, letting listeners appreciate both the humor and the literary context. Far from crude burlesque, the parodies aim to expose the pretensions and oddities that sometimes hide behind lofty poetry.
Readers will hear witty re‑imaginings of Shakespeare’s soliloquies, Milton’s epic grandeur, Tennyson’s heroic couplets, and the brisk humor of Longfellow, Hood, and Poe, among many others. The editor’s scholarly introductions and cross‑references make the anthology a useful companion for students and lovers of the canon alike, while the lively verses invite repeated listening and even recitation. Though the humor is pointed, the selections avoid vulgarity, offering a respectful yet playful tribute to the masters whose words have shaped literature.
Language
en
Duration
~21 hours (1263K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Reeves & Turner, 1885.
Credits
Carol Brown, Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-04-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects