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Humorous Readings and Recitations

by Leopold WAGNER (1858 - )

The Caliph's Jester

Before radio, television, and electronic mass media, lectures, recitations, public readings, and other public performances were important ways of sharing new works with the public or attracting public attention to issues and authors of the time. Public performance was, in a sense, the internet of its day, as people sought to learn of the world around them, as well as entertain themselves. This anthology of short humorous pieces was intended as a ready reference of material of all sorts to those who participated in public performance, whether professionally, or as part of a school or community program. The pieces themselves were intended to be read aloud, shared with, and appreciated by, an audience. This intent is not dissimilar to the mission of Librivox in the twenty-first century. They were written by popular authors of the period, some of whose names are still well known in the twenty first-century, such as J. M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), W.S. Gilbert (HMS Pinafore) and W.M. Thackeray (Vanity Fair), as well as others whose popularity has waned. (DrPGould)

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Listen next episodes of Humorous Readings and Recitations:
A Journey in Search of Nothing , A Night with a Stork , Acting with a Vengeance , Artemus Ward's Visit to the Tower of London , Billy Dumps, the Tailor , Domestic Asides , Etiquette , Gemini and Virgo , King Bibbs , Lost Shepherd , Married to a Giantess , Mathematic Madness , Molly Muldoon , Moral Music , Mr. Caudle has lent an Acquaintance the Family Umbrella , My Brother Henry , My Fortnight at Wretchedville , My Friend Treacle , My Matrimonial Predicament , On Punning , Seaside Lodgings , The Charity Dinner , The Demon Snuffers , The Dream of the Bilious Beadle , The Faithful Lovers , The Harmonious Lobsters , The Provincial Landlady , The Sorrows of Werther , The Vision of the Alderman , The Voice of the Sluggard , The Wail of a Banner-Bearer , The Walrus and the Carpenter , Waiting at Tottlepot