The Fifth Line: Limericks After Lear

By John Arthur Nichol and Rory Walker

If you've ever longed for the Old Man of Cape Horn to cheer up, or to rescue the Person of Cromer from his sudden and unexplained conclusion, or to silence that annoying Old Man with a Bell, then this is the book you've been waiting for.

The Fifth Line: Limericks After Lear.

One hundred and twelve brand new limericks based on Edward Lear's verses in his ground-breaking work, A Book of Nonsense (1846 and 1863).

Plus Edward Lear's original verses.

That's two hundred and twenty four limericks!

But why the new new take on old poems?

Because Edward Lear abandoned the most important part of the limerick - the fifth line - an ending that adds a twist to the story and makes us chuckle.

Lear would establish a premise that was knowingly and joyfully absurd, then end with an anti-climax. His final line simply repeated the rhyme and substance of what he'd said at the start.

The Fifth Line revisits every verse in A Book of Nonsense, restoring to each the proper form and function of a limerick.

They're all here, from An Old Man With a Nose to A Young Lady Whose Bonnet, and everything in between.

And there's a laugh in every one.

The Fifth Line: Limericks After Lear.

Plus Lear.

Plus laughs. Lots of laughs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moonflight Press
• Release date: Nov 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648905912