Showing results by author "John Kendrick Bangs" in All Categories

"It was before the Idiot's marriage, and in the days when he was nothing more than a plain boarder in Mrs. Smithers-Pedagog's High-class Home for Single Gentlemen, that he put what the School-master termed his "alleged mind" on plans for the amelioration of the condition of the civilized." This humorous story by the editor of Puck magazine describes how the Idiot sets out to improve the lot of civilized man through his inventions - the lot of barbarian man already being well tended to by missionaries and other do-gooders. (Introduction by peac) Cast: Narrator: peac The Idiot: Algy Pug Mrs. ...

A gripping collection of outstanding American classic short stories by some of America's greatest writers: 'A Ghost Story' by Mark Twain; 'Pomegranate Seed' by Edith Wharton; 'Pigeons from Hell' by Robert E. Howard; 'Pickman's Model' by H. P. Lovecraft; 'The Adventure of the German Student' by Nathaniel Hawthorne; 'Absolute Zero' by Morgan Robertson; and many more.

Delve into a satirical exploration of early biblical events as narrated by the oldest man in recorded history. This unique perspective, filled with humor and wit, brings a whole new light to age-old tales. (Introduction by Matthew Reece)

Here are three stories that will make you chuckle and shiver at the same time. Spirits can be funny when they turn out to have issues and problems of their own, and the authors of these stories, John Kendrick Bangs and H. G. Wells, have a fine time putting smiles on our faces - and wiping them off again!

This is a book of 57 sections divided into 2 parts. The first part is comprised of 26 poems & the second part concludes with 31 assorted stories & otherwise. John Kendrick Bangs had been known as a jokester & prankster; was also known to be the editor of Puck, perhaps the foremost American humor magazine. Take a peak and see how you end up with a grin on your face and in your heart as well. That is honest Bangsian writing. - Summary by AR

Summary: Four short Christmas stories, a bit sentimental, but still affecting and worthwhile. Plus Four Christmas verses. (Summary by David Wales)

Have you ever had a roommate who was a complete Idiot? The gentlemen in Mrs. Smithers' boarding house have that problem, but what really annoys them is that no matter what subject they discuss, the Idiot always seems to get the better of them! Time after time, their intellectual arguments are dismantled by this man who is a lot smarter than he seems.

No matter how hard they try, the men of Mrs. Smithers-Pedagog's boarding house cannot seem to get the better of the man they (rather impolitely) call "the Idiot." Whether the subject is religion, history, or economics, the Idiot always ties their arguments into knots. The second installment of John Kendrick Bangs "Idiot" series is sure to delight and entertain.

Included in this volume: "Watson!" by Captain A. E. Dingle; The Adventure of the Diamond Necklace, by G. F. Forrest; The Stolen Cigar-Case, by Bret Harte; The Adventures of Shamrock Jolnes, by O. Henry; and Mr. Raffles Holmes, by John Kendrick Bangs.

"Mr. Bangs has caught the spirit of the 'Christmas Carols,' and phrased it in his own style, so well liked in America. Not in a long time have we had Christmas stories so good.... Mr. Bangs' sense of humor never fails, his diction is well liked, and in these tales he has woven a strain of pathos which is not unfitting." (Journal of Education, 1912)

New York-born John Kendrick Bangs was associate editor and then editor of Life and Harper magazines, eventually finding his way into the Humour department. Here, he began to write his own satire and humour. Ghosts I Have Met and Some Others is a delightful humorous collection of short tales relating encounters with ghosts, including "The Mystery of My Grandmother's Hair Sofa", "The Exorcism That Failed", and more.

In this delightful volume, the author invites us to rediscover the whimsical adventures of the legendary raconteur, Baron Munchausen, as brought to life by the talented Mr. Bangs. With a dozen captivating tales, this collection showcases the Barons escapades, which are as entertaining in the afterlife as they were on Earth. Mr. Bangs expertly curates these humorous stories, ensuring that the spirit of this charming old storyteller resonates with contemporary audiences. Prepare for a journey filled with laughter and imagination as you dive into the world of Munchausen once again!

There should be a bit of poetry in every day, and John Kendrick Bangs wrote a fitting poem for each day in the year. In 1920, a book was published with one of Bangs' poems for each day. This project covers the month of May. - Summary by Carolin

Step into a world where imagination reigns supreme with 'Andiron Tales' by John Kendrick Bangs. Follow the journey of a young boy whose vibrant imagination transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Each story invites listeners to experience whimsical adventures that spark creativity and wonder. From flying through enchanted skies to meeting fantastical creatures, these tales inspire children to embrace their own imaginative powers. Bangs masterfully crafts a narrative that speaks to the hearts of both young readers and those young at heart. Perfect for bedtime stories or family listening...

This is a volume of poetry by John Kendrick Bangs. All the poems in this volume share the very positive tone, they discuss happiness, love, and friendship, and can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. - Summary by Carolin

From Alice in Blunderland: "Certain of our members claim that they have a right to sell their votes for $500 apiece--" "Mercy!" cried Alice, "Why, that is--that is terrible." "It certainly is," said the March Hare ruefully, it's rotten. Here I've been holding out for $1,250 for mine, and these duffers want to go in for a cut rate that will absolutely ruin the business." John Kendrick Bangs takes Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and turns it into a political satire in many ways as fresh, keen and relevant today as it was a hundred years ago. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

John Kendrick Bangs was an American author and satirist, and the creator of modern Bangasian Fantasy, the school of fantasy writing that sets the plot wholly or partially in the afterlife. (Wikipedia) Plot summary: J K Bangs has taken Alice from Lewis Carroll's “Alice in Wonderland” and lets her on a boring day travel with the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and the other of Carroll's familiar characters to Blunderland. The story is a well written Satire, a witty, humorous tale of adventure and city politics, a tale of Alice in a land where nothing is as it should be. (Summary...

I could not let these random notes of a delightful experience go forth into the world without expressing in some way my deep appreciation of the valued services rendered me in my ten years of platform work by my friends of the Lyceum Bureaus. In office and in the field they have labored strenuously, often affectionately, and always loyally, on my behalf. But for their interest some of the most cherished experiences of my life would have been beyond my reach. If sometimes in their zeal to keep me busy they have booked me in Winnipeg on Monday night, in New Orleans on Tuesday night, with little ...

Written by a fictitious first-person narrator, this book puts a humorous spin on encounters with several famous people of the time. "I set forth from my office in London upon my pilgrimage to the shrines of the world's illustrious. Readers everywhere are interested in the home life of men who have made themselves factors in art, science, letters, and history, and to these people I was commissioned to go." This version has been read as full cast dramatic reading. -- Summary by TriciaG and from the book. Edited by linny Proof listeners: DrPGould, and Nemo Cast (of chapters with more than 2 ...

Written by a fictitious first-person narrator, this book puts a humorous spin on encounters with several famous people of the time. "I set forth from my office in London upon my pilgrimage to the shrines of the world's illustrious. Readers everywhere are interested in the home life of men who have made themselves factors in art, science, letters, and history, and to these people I was commissioned to go." -- Summary by TriciaG and from the book.