Ironical Tales

Title

en_US Ironical Tales

Description

en_US This is a hardbound book (hard cover)

en_US This book has a dust jacket (book cover)

en_US Laurence Housman

Creator

en_US Housman, Laurence See all items with this value

Date

2016-01-25T19:02:44Z

en_US 1998-06

en_US 1927

Date Available

2016-01-25T19:02:44Z

Date Issued

en_US 1927

Abstract

en_US Irony is the central concept here. Just when a reader thinks that she or he has found the right vantage point, there can be an ironic shift. This book starts with seven short stories and ends with ten similar pieces. In between there are thirteen Philosophical Romances that sometimes come close to fables. Of the early short stories, I recommend most highly The Real Temptation of St. Anthony and The Turn of the Worm. I find in Housman's work a steady clash of body and soul, of belief and unbelief. The latter of these two pieces is about getting the head and body of a missionary together in a literal way. It is typical of Housman's satire that the head ends up being made into a god and leading local Christians into many battles against other tribes, including many that were Christian (58). The shorter pieces at the center sometimes approach Bierce for their sardonic quick shifts. Try the first, The Merchant and the Robber (59) for a taste of human ingratitude and ingenuity. The Poet and his Mistress (74) shifts perspective several times--deftly and pointedly. Among the best for humor is The Prince and His Two Mistresses (92).

Identifier

en_US 4104 (Access ID)

uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10504/79430

Language

en_US eng

Publisher

en_US George H. Doran Company

en_US New York

Subject

en_US PR4809.H18 I7 1927 See all items with this value

en_US Title Page Scanned See all items with this value

Type

en_US Book, Whole