📖 Overview
More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc. is an 1872 collection of whimsical poetry and artwork by Edward Lear. The book serves as a sequel to his earlier Book of Nonsense, continuing his tradition of linguistic play and imaginative illustrations.
The volume contains limericks, botanical sketches, alphabets, and longer narrative poems accompanied by Lear's own black and white drawings. Many pieces feature invented creatures and absurd scenarios, presented with precise technical language that contrasts with the fantastical subject matter.
This anthology reflects Lear's signature style of combining nonsense with elements of scientific observation and natural history. The botanical sections include detailed studies of invented plants with Latin nomenclature, while the verses employ wordplay and neologisms.
The collection exemplifies Victorian-era experimentation with form and meaning, challenging conventional boundaries between scientific documentation and pure fancy. Through seemingly frivolous verses and drawings, the work explores themes of categorization, authority, and the relationship between observation and imagination.
👀 Reviews
This lesser-known collection of Lear's nonsense poetry receives limited online reviews but tends to appeal to fans of his established nonsense verse style.
Readers appreciate:
- The continuation of Lear's signature wordplay and absurdist humor
- Hand-drawn illustrations that complement the poems
- Inclusion of both well-known and obscure nonsense verses
- Quick-reading format suitable for children
Common criticisms:
- Not as memorable as Lear's earlier nonsense collections
- Some poems feel repetitive or formulaic
- Print quality varies between editions
- Limited availability of complete versions
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.91/5 (32 ratings)
Internet Archive: 4/5 (6 ratings)
Few detailed written reviews exist online. One Goodreads reviewer notes: "The botanical sketches are a highlight, showing Lear's skill as both artist and humorist." Another mentions that "some poems fall flat compared to his Book of Nonsense, but the illustrations save them."
📚 Similar books
The Complete Nonsense of Edward Lear by Edward Lear
A collection of limericks, songs, botanical drawings, and whimsical verses from the same author's complete works.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein The poems and illustrations combine peculiar characters with unexpected situations in rhythmic verse.
A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear The original collection of limericks and drawings that established the nonsense verse genre.
Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne A collection of poetry featuring Christopher Robin and friends with simple rhythms and playful imagery.
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories by Tim Burton Short poems and sketches tell tales of misfit characters in darkly humorous situations.
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein The poems and illustrations combine peculiar characters with unexpected situations in rhythmic verse.
A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear The original collection of limericks and drawings that established the nonsense verse genre.
Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne A collection of poetry featuring Christopher Robin and friends with simple rhythms and playful imagery.
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories by Tim Burton Short poems and sketches tell tales of misfit characters in darkly humorous situations.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Edward Lear originally made his living as a scientific illustrator, creating remarkably detailed drawings of birds and other animals before becoming famous for his nonsense verse.
🌿 The book includes Lear's invented "Nonsense Botany" - a collection of whimsical plant drawings with fantastical Latin names that playfully mock scientific classification systems.
📝 Many of the limericks and verses in this collection were first composed to amuse children of his aristocratic patrons, particularly the Earl of Derby's grandchildren.
🎨 Lear suffered from epilepsy and depression throughout his life, yet his work remained consistently filled with joy and whimsy - a striking contrast to his personal struggles.
🌍 The book's illustrations and poems influenced generations of artists and writers, including Beatrix Potter and Dr. Seuss, helping establish nonsense literature as a respected genre in children's literature.