Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. An Anthology of the American HumorBy Various Authors
Length9h 59m
About this audiobook
Little Masterpieces of American Wit and Humor (Vol. 1&2) gathers short comic prose, verse, sketches, anecdotes, and satirical observations that display the range of American humor from refined irony to vernacular absurdity. Read together, these selections illuminate a tradition shaped by newspapers, magazines, lecture halls, regional storytelling, and the democratic appetite for quick, memorable wit. The style varies from polished literary parody to colloquial tall-tale exuberance, placing the anthology within the broader nineteenth-century flowering of American comic writing. The designation "Various Authors" is especially apt, for the collection's intelligence lies in its chorus of voices rather than a single authorial program. Its contributors emerge from a culture in which humorists were often journalists, editors, lecturers, poets, or local observers, turning everyday manners, political habits, social pretensions, and regional speech into literary material. Their combined work reflects the pressures and pleasures of a young nation defining its character through laughter. This anthology is recommended to readers interested in American literary history, comic form, and cultural self-portraiture. It offers both amusement and insight, preserving concise works whose wit remains sharp while revealing how humor helped Americans interpret themselves.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection.
- Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer.
- A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists.
- A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds.
- Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.
Audiobook details
GenreHumor
Length9 hrs 59 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 28, 2021
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Benefits of Farting Explained + A Modest Proposal (Annotated)
26Volume 2
2Introduction
27SOL SMITH
3Historical Context
28THE DOG AND THE BEES
4Synopsis (Selection)
29OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
5Volume 1
30G. H. DERBY (“Phœnix,” “Squibob”)
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6INTRODUCTION
31SUSAN SIMPSON
7WASHINGTON IRVING
32MARY MAPES DODGE
8BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
33JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
9WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER
34JOHN GODFREY SAXE
10HENRY WARD BEECHER
35SAMUEL L. CLEMENS (“Mark Twain”)
11N. P. WILLIS
36FREDERICK WILLIAM SHELTON
12B. P. SHILLABER ("Mrs. Partington")
37BRET HARTE
13OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
38JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
14JAMES T. FIELDS
39CHARLES GODFREY LELAND
15JOHN HAY
40G. H. DERBY (“Phœnix,” “Squibob”)
16HENRY W. SHAW ("Josh Billings")
41BRET HARTE
17JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
42THE V-A-S-E
18CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER
43FRANK R. STOCKTON
19OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
44JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE
20FREDERICK S. COZZENS
45A BOSTON LULLABY
21FRANCES M. WHICHER
46ROBERT JONES BURDETTE
22MARIETTA HOLLEY
47THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
23EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN
48[ANONYMOUS]
24JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
49HENRY GUY CARLETON
25MARK TWAIN
50GEORGE T. LANIGAN
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