Comedy Archeology - Snozzcumbers, Jabberwocks And Jumblies

Words. Words, words, words. Wordy wordingtons. Useful little blighters (especially handy when composing as blog). Used to convey sense and meaning and generally get one’s gist across. They can be great fun, however, when they’re used for absolute nonsense purposes, for nothing more than a joy in the sounds that they make. 

There are several authors that I responded strongly to from a young age who fit that bill (alongside Mr Milligan as discussed in the previous post). None of these should really come as a surprise if you;ve been following so far…

Dr Seuss
Or Theodore Giesel as his mother would have known him. Responsible for getting many a generation hooked on rhyming nonsense for quite a few decades now. I also love a good comedy name and Too Many Daves has a fine selection (including but not limited to Hoofoos, Snimm, Oliver Boliver Butt and Marvin O’Gracel Balloon Face).
Interesting Fact:- Seuss actually wrote and illustrated a couple of books for adults, one of which was called The Seven Lady Godivas and features (unsurprisingly) naked ladies.

Lewis Carroll
Alice In Wonderland and Alice Through The Looking Glass were definite favourites and include one of the only poems I used to know off by heart (Jabberwocky). These weren’t his only works, though, and The Hunting Of The Snark contains some nicely sublime silliness too.
Interesting Fact:- The Hunting Of The Snark is divide into Fits (Fit The First, Fit The Second, etc.), a titling convention that Douglas Adams borrowed for the radio episodes of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.

Edward Lear
The king of the limerick and the progenitor of many a nonsense enthusiast, Lear loved a good illogical image and a ridiculous name. The Owl And The Pussycat has stood the test of time with its combination of charm and daftness (and I was also fond of the Quangle Wangle’s Hat)
Vague Fact:- I have a vague memory of seeing a musical based upon the works of Lear as a child featuring The Owl, The Pussycat, The Quangle Wangle, The Dong With The Luminous Nose and The Plum Pudding Flea amongst others...

Roald Dahl
During my childhood, though, this was the man who reigned supreme. I loved Roald Dahl books with a passion and devoured them all. Favourites for me included The Twits, George’s Marvellous Medicine and The Witches (although I never read a Roald Dahl book I didn't like).
Interesting Fact:- Roald Dahl’s first book was written for Disney and was called The Gremlins (based upon RAF folklore about little creatures in planes).

It wasn’t just books that had a humourous impact upon my tiny little child-like mind, however...