The Stripy Bird. The Scroobius Bird. The Obsequious Ornamental Ostrich
who wore boots to keep his feet quite dry. Of all the animals that
sprang from the idiosyncratic imagination of Edward Lear, few feature as
frequently as birds, which appear throughout his work, from the
flamboyant flock in the Nonsense Alphabet to the quirky avian
characters of his limericks, stories, and songs. Lear drew himself as a
bird on numerous occasions. In a popular self-portrait--later reproduced
on a postage stamp--Lear even represented himself as a portly,
bespectacled bird.
Edward Lear's Nonsense Birds collects more than sixty of Lear's bird
illustrations from across his entire body of work. Often, the birds have
hilariously human characteristics. There is, for instance, a
Good-Natured Grey Gull, a Hasty Hen, and a Querulous Quail. The
Judicious Jay is chiefly concerned with good grooming. The Vicious
Vulture, meanwhile, turns out to be a wordsmith whose verses on vellum
celebrate veal. Each bird is endowed with a unique personality, while
collectively they form a wonderfully amusing flock. Also included are a
series of twenty-four hand-colored illustrations.
Bright and beautifully illustrated, this book will make a perfect gift
for children of all ages and will also be welcomed by all who love
Lear's work or are interested in learning more about his fascination
with birds.
