The Absurd ABC

Classic nursery rhymes are set in gilded letters and traditional paintings by Walter Crane. A detailed preface provides historic details of the earliest publishing of children's books and the importance that Walter Crane played in that history. For the Absurd ABC each upper-case letter caste in gold is presented with a silly two-line rhyme: "F for the frog in the story you know, Begun with the wooing but ending in woe". Shows a frog and his ukulele weaning a damsel frog on the balcony.

The Absurd ABC
Walter Crane, english artist and book illustrator (1845-1915)

This ebook presents «The Absurd ABC», from Walter Crane. A dynamic table of contents enables to jump directly to the chapter selected.

Table of Contents
- About This Book
- The Absurd Abc

Her neck did she Crane, As she looked up the Lane, To see the Three Bears pass by. They all went in, oddly, At the head of the Bodley, An A.B.C. for to buy! ‘Mother Hubbard – Her Picture Book’ is a fantastic collection of classic children’s stories, stunningly illustrated throughout by Walter Crane. It is one of Crane’s many celebrated ‘Toy Books’, and contains the tales of ‘Mother Hubbard’, ‘The Three Bears’ and ‘The Absurd ABC’. Decorated throughout, in full-colour, it is a volume that both young and old will delight in. Crane (1845 – 1915), was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children’s book creator of his generation. Alongside such names as Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, he was also one of the strongest contributors to the child’s nursery theme. Crane’s work is characteristically colourful and beautifully detailed, taking its inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement (of which he was a member), as well as the iconic child-in-the-garden motif. His illustrated books are incredibly sought after today, as some of the finest examples of Golden Age art. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration from the 1880s to the 1930s. Our collection showcases classic fairy tales, children’s stories, and the work of some of the most celebrated artists, illustrators and authors.

Paul is an ordinary lad who on waking up on an ordinary day, just cannot talk normally, mouthing occasional words but mostly struck dumb. A diagnosis from a top consultant informs him that his complaint is simply an inability to say out loud any word containing that most common sign in our ABC (it's found twixt "d" and "f"). A not uncommon affliction, as Paul quickly finds out. Coping with this incapacity finds Paul going through many alarming trials and tribulations-a walkout by his girl, a hair-raising trip in a wayward bus, a liaison with a prior Russian spy, implication in purloining a vast hoard of gold, absconding abroad with journalists on his tail and finally coaching high-ranking staff in a Paris Ministry with a similar vocal handicap. A litany you should find amusing-and simply absurd. In writing this ficticious diary (it's known as a "lipogram"on account of its total lack of that "sign") our protagonist has constant support from Oulipo - an actual artisitic organisation promoting such constraints in composition.