Edward Lear's Complete Nonsense

Although he was at one time art master to Queen Victoria and his delicate watercolour landscapes and bird prints are still sought after, it is as the laureate of nonsense that Edward Lear is best remembered.

Shy in the company of adults, he began writing limericks to amuse the children of his patron, the Earl of Derby. It was for them that 'The Owl and the Pussycat', 'The Jumblies', 'The Pobble Who Had No Toes' and so many other immortal characters were invented. Travelling extensively in Europe and Asia, he wrote letters full of puns, absurd rhymes and comic drawings to his young friends. 'Bosh,’ as Lear remarked, 'requires a good deal of care,' and he lavished it on his own creations.

This charming compendium features Lear’s original illustrations and is introduced by Quentin Blake.

Read more about the life and work of Edward Lear