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14
LEAR’S INTRODUCTION TO AN EXPANDED EDITION OF
“THE BOOK OF NONSENSE”
In offering this little book — the third of its kind — to the public,
I am glad to take the opportunity of recording the pleasure I have re-
ceived at the appreciation its predecessors have met with, as attested by
their wide circulation, and by the universally kind notices of them from
the Press. To have been the means of administering innocent mirth to
thousands, may surely be a just motive for satisfaction, and an excuse
for grateful expression.
At the same time, I am desirous of adding a few words as to the his-
tory of the two previously published volumes, and more particularly
of the first or original “Book of Nonsense,” relating to which many
absurd reports have crept into circulation, such as that it was the com-
position of the late Lord Brougham, the late Earl of Derby, etc.; that
the rhymes and pictures are by different persons; or that the whole
have a symbolical meaning, etc.; whereas, every one of the Rhymes was
composed by myself, and every one of the Illustrations drawn by my
own hand at the time the verses were made. Moreover, in no portion of
these Nonsense drawings have I ever allowed any caricature of private
or public persons to appear, and throughout, more care than might
be supposed has been given to make the subjects incapable of mis-
interpretation: “Nonsense,” pure and absolute, having been my aim
throughout.
As for the persistently absurd report of the late Earl of Derby being
the author of the “First Book of Nonsense,” I may relate an incident
which occurred to me four summers ago, the first that gave me any
insight into the origin of the rumor.
I was on my way from London to Guildford, in a railway carriage,
containing, besides myself, one passenger, an elderly gentleman: pres-
ently, however, two ladies entered, accompanied by two little boys.
These, who had just had a copy of the “Book of Nonsense” given them,
were loud in their delight, and by degrees infected the whole party with
their mirth.
“How grateful,” said the old gentleman to the two ladies, “all chil-
dren, and parents too, ought to be to the statesman who has given his
time to composing that charming book!”
(The ladies looked puzzled, as indeed was I, the author.)
“Do you not know who is the writer of it?” asked the gentleman.
“The name is ‘Edward Lear,’ ” said one of the ladies.