Showing results by author "F. Anstey" in All Categories

When Algernon Weatherhead moves into Wisteria Villa, he finds himself living next door to the Currie family, who are besotted with their black poodle Bingo. Algernon falls in love with the Colonel Currie's adopted niece Lillian... but he cannot make friends with Bingo, a dog with a deeply psychotic desire to bite neighbours, tradespeople, the gardener and passers-by. When Algernon shoots Bingo dead by accident, events lead to him burying the body in a shallow grave and pretending the dog has run away.

The Brass Bottle is the story of an architect who bought an antique brass bottle to give to a professor dealing in Mideast antiquities. After the purchase, the architect’s curiosity was aroused, and he removed the stopper in the bottle. And when he did, a big cloud of smoke was released, producing a major surprise when a genie emerged. His name was Fakrash el-Aamash, and he turned out to be a fairy-tale-type character who wound up trying to repay the architect, Horace Ventimore, for giving him release from what amounted to a brass prison.

Dive into a delightful collection of short stories by the renowned humorist F. Anstey, a celebrated writer for Punch magazine. These tales range from the whimsically funny to the eerily thought-provoking, offering a unique blend of humor and insight that will captivate your imagination. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

In Giants Robe, we follow Mark Ashburn, a disillusioned young teacher at St. Peters Public School for boys, a place he finds himself at odds with. Aspiring to make a name for himself in the literary world, Mark faces a relentless tide of mediocrity and rejection. Everything changes when he reconnects with Vincent, an old friend who is preparing for a journey to his fathers plantation in Ceylon. Vincent asks Mark for a seemingly harmless favor, and in a moment of impulsive courage, Mark agrees—unaware of the profound consequences that await him. This fateful decision spirals into a web of ...

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, Vice Versa tells the whimsical tale of businessman Paul Bultitude and his anxious son, Dick. As Dick prepares to leave for a daunting boarding school ruled by the fearsome headmaster Dr. Grimstone, his fathers offhand remark that schooldays are the best years of a boys life sparks an unexpected twist. With the help of a magical stone from an uncle in India that grants wishes, they find themselves swapped in body and spirit. Now, Mr. Bultitude must navigate the challenges of school life while Dick takes the helm of his fathers business in the ...

In Mr. Punchs Pocket Ibsen, experience a delightful twist on five of Henrik Ibsens renowned tragedies through witty comic parodies that originally graced the pages of Punch, the iconic British humor magazine. The author playfully acknowledges the absence of the originals enigmatic depth and the lighter touch on allegorical symbolism, while humorously noting that the characters may not be as wildly irrational as real-life individuals often are. These charming adaptations invite readers to embrace the quirks of Ibsens world with a fresh perspective. LibriVox has brought to life full-cast ...

F. Anstey, writing under the pseudonym Thomas Anstey Guthrie, was a gifted Londoner who, despite his legal training, found fame as a creator of witty pieces for Punch and humorous novels. Mr. Punchs Model Music Hall is a delightful compilation of his comedic works crafted for Punch, encompassing both songs and dramas. True to his style, Anstey masterfully captured the spirit of his era, amplifying the absurdities of life to entertain and provoke thoughtful commentary. - Summary by Don W. Jenkins

Dive into the whimsical world of In Brief Authority, a satirical comedy from 1915 that follows a nouveau riche British family and their quirky nanny as they embark on an extraordinary adventure to Maerchenland, the enchanting land of Fairy Tales. One fateful evening, they find themselves transported in a car drawn by storks, where the familys snobbish matron is mistakenly crowned Queen. Eager to impose her British social customs, she stirs up delightful chaos among the kingdoms gnomes, giants, and a dragon. As the royal family introduces concepts like capitalism and golf, tensions rise when ...

F. Anstey, the pen name of Thomas Anstey Guthrie, was a witty London writer whose humorous flair won him acclaim in the pages of Punch and beyond. In Voces Populi, a delightful collection of his best Punch pieces, Anstey explores a variety of amusing scenarios, from the antics of a fraudulent conjuror to a comical dispute over a ladys oversized, obstructive hat at the music hall. Join Don W. Jenkins as he brings this masterful collection to life.

'The Magic H's' is a humorous tale of a young, rich, eligible and attractive young aristocrat: Harald Hipperholme. Tragically, the young man suffers a speech impediment - he is unable to pronounce the letter H - which in polite London society amounts to social death. The young earl sounds more like a Cockney without his H's. He resorts in the first place to elocution lessons but with no success. Then he tries black magic and conjures up a demon who agrees to help him. But of course there is a terrible catch to the deal....

Dive into a delightful collection of ten humorous short stories that will tickle your funny bone and brighten your day. Join Carolin as she narrates these whimsical tales that are sure to entertain and amuse.

Join Peter Tourmalin on an adventurous sea voyage back to England from Australia, as he eagerly anticipates reuniting with his fiancée. However, the long journey quickly turns tedious, exacerbated by the time difference that stretches his boredom. When Peter discovers an intriguing opportunity to deposit his spare time into an account with the Anglo-Australian Joint Stock Time Bank, Limited, he jumps at the chance. This unique account allows him to save his spare moments for future enjoyment, easily withdrawing them whenever he needs a break by presenting a time cheque to any clock. Sounds...