A Book of Nonsense is a collection of limericks by Edward Lear, first published in 1846 under the pen name Derry Down Derry. Each five-line comic poem is illustrated with a drawing by Lear himself. The book made the limerick famous and is a landmark of nonsense literature.
The limerick
A limerick is a five-line poem with the rhyme scheme AABBA. Lear's usually begin with There was an Old Man or an Old Person from a particular place.
Unlike later limericks, his often repeat the first line's rhyme word in the last line.
Lear's drawings
Every limerick is accompanied by a drawing of the absurd character, often with exaggerated features, long legs or extraordinary hats.
Lear was a talented painter of birds and landscapes, and his comic drawings show the same skill.
Written for children
Lear wrote the first limericks for the children of the Earl of Derby at Knowsley Hall, where he was employed to draw the animals of the earl's menagerie.
Expanded editions in 1855 and 1861 made the book hugely popular with children and adults alike.
Anecdotes
Derry Down Derry
Lear published the first edition under the pseudonym Derry Down Derry. His real name appeared only in the 1861 edition.
Drawing lessons for a queen
In 1846, the year of the book, Lear gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
What is a limerick?
A five-line comic poem rhyming AABBA.
When was A Book of Nonsense first published?
In 1846.
For whom did Lear first write limericks?
For the children of the Earl of Derby.