Showing results by author "John Kendrick Bangs" in All Categories

Step into a world where imagination reigns supreme with 'Andiron Tales' by John Kendrick Bangs. Follow the journey of a young boy whose vibrant imagination transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. Each story invites listeners to experience whimsical adventures that spark creativity and wonder. From flying through enchanted skies to meeting fantastical creatures, these tales inspire children to embrace their own imaginative powers. Bangs masterfully crafts a narrative that speaks to the hearts of both young readers and those young at heart. Perfect for bedtime stories or family listening...

"Mr. Bangs has caught the spirit of the 'Christmas Carols,' and phrased it in his own style, so well liked in America. Not in a long time have we had Christmas stories so good.... Mr. Bangs' sense of humor never fails, his diction is well liked, and in these tales he has woven a strain of pathos which is not unfitting." (Journal of Education, 1912)

From Alice in Blunderland: "Certain of our members claim that they have a right to sell their votes for $500 apiece--" "Mercy!" cried Alice, "Why, that is--that is terrible." "It certainly is," said the March Hare ruefully, it's rotten. Here I've been holding out for $1,250 for mine, and these duffers want to go in for a cut rate that will absolutely ruin the business." John Kendrick Bangs takes Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and turns it into a political satire in many ways as fresh, keen and relevant today as it was a hundred years ago. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

John Kendrick Bangs was an American author and satirist, and the creator of modern Bangasian Fantasy, the school of fantasy writing that sets the plot wholly or partially in the afterlife. (Wikipedia) Plot summary: J K Bangs has taken Alice from Lewis Carroll's “Alice in Wonderland” and lets her on a boring day travel with the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and the other of Carroll's familiar characters to Blunderland. The story is a well written Satire, a witty, humorous tale of adventure and city politics, a tale of Alice in a land where nothing is as it should be. (Summary...

I could not let these random notes of a delightful experience go forth into the world without expressing in some way my deep appreciation of the valued services rendered me in my ten years of platform work by my friends of the Lyceum Bureaus. In office and in the field they have labored strenuously, often affectionately, and always loyally, on my behalf. But for their interest some of the most cherished experiences of my life would have been beyond my reach. If sometimes in their zeal to keep me busy they have booked me in Winnipeg on Monday night, in New Orleans on Tuesday night, with little ...

"It was before the Idiot's marriage, and in the days when he was nothing more than a plain boarder in Mrs. Smithers-Pedagog's High-class Home for Single Gentlemen, that he put what the School-master termed his "alleged mind" on plans for the amelioration of the condition of the civilized." This humorous story by the editor of Puck magazine describes how the Idiot sets out to improve the lot of civilized man through his inventions - the lot of barbarian man already being well tended to by missionaries and other do-gooders. (Introduction by peac) Cast: Narrator: peac The Idiot: Algy Pug Mrs. ...

Written by a fictitious first-person narrator, this book puts a humorous spin on encounters with several famous people of the time. "I set forth from my office in London upon my pilgrimage to the shrines of the world's illustrious. Readers everywhere are interested in the home life of men who have made themselves factors in art, science, letters, and history, and to these people I was commissioned to go." This version has been read as full cast dramatic reading. -- Summary by TriciaG and from the book. Edited by linny Proof listeners: DrPGould, and Nemo Cast (of chapters with more than 2 ...

Written by a fictitious first-person narrator, this book puts a humorous spin on encounters with several famous people of the time. "I set forth from my office in London upon my pilgrimage to the shrines of the world's illustrious. Readers everywhere are interested in the home life of men who have made themselves factors in art, science, letters, and history, and to these people I was commissioned to go." -- Summary by TriciaG and from the book.

Join Mrs. Raffles, the intriguing widow of the infamous A. J. Raffles—the gentleman thief once chased by Sherlock Holmes—as she embarks on a thrilling new chapter of crime in America. Narrated by her loyal accomplice, Harry Bunny Manders, who was once the trusted friend and partner of A.J. Raffles, these captivating stories promise a blend of wit, charm, and daring escapades. (Summary by lubee930)

Step into the whimsical world of John Kendrick Bangs, a New York native who charmed readers as an associate editor and later editor at Life and Harper magazines. Renowned for his sharp wit, Bangs ventured into the realm of satire and humor, crafting a delightful collection titled Ghosts I Have Met and Some Others. In this enchanting assortment of short tales, he recounts his amusing encounters with ghosts, blending humor with the supernatural in a way that will leave you both entertained and intrigued. (Summary by Cathy Barratt)

Join Mr. Idiot as he returns with his quirky takes on a variety of topics, from women and taxation to the complexities of international diplomacy. Expect his trademark blend of absurdity and sharp wit as he delivers silly soliloquies that are sure to entertain and provoke thought. Whats your favorite moment? (Kim)

Join Bangs as he masterfully brings to life a delightful collection of timeless fairy tales. Even if titles like Jack and the Check Book, Puss, the Promoter, and the Golden Fleece dont ring a bell just yet, youre in for a treat as their captivating stories unfold. - Summary by Cate Barratt

In Idiot, the protagonist may seem foolish to his fellow residents at Mrs. Smithers-Pedagog’s home for single gentlemen, but his unconventional creativity proves to be anything but trivial. While they dismiss his insights as nonsense, his unique perspective manages to get under their skin, revealing that sometimes, the most disregarded voices can share the most profound truths. This captivating tale is the first of John Kendrick Bangs Idiot series, originally published by Harper and Brothers in 1895. (Summary by Gregg Margarite)

Join John Kendrick Bangs on yet another delightful adventure with the charmingly self-assured yet often exasperating Mr. Idiot. This journey, narrated by Michele Eaton, promises to entertain and amuse as we explore the quirks of our beloved protagonist.

History's oldest man spills his beans in this tell-all autobiography, written originally on stone tablets. Methuselah shares his recollections of Adam (his great-great-great-great grandfather) and Eve, a woman he refers to as Madame Eve. He tells of his concerns that his son Noah is building a giant boat 25 miles from the nearest ocean and his fear that people will believe rumors Noah is involved in a massive investment scandal.

New York-born John Kendrick Bangs was associate editor and then editor of Life and Harper magazines, eventually finding his way into the Humour department. Here, he began to write his own satire and humour. Ghosts I Have Met and Some Others is a delightful humorous collection of short tales relating encounters with ghosts, including "The Mystery of My Grandmother's Hair Sofa", "The Exorcism That Failed", and more.

No matter how hard they try, the men of Mrs. Smithers-Pedagog's boarding house cannot seem to get the better of the man they (rather impolitely) call "the Idiot." Whether the subject is religion, history, or economics, the Idiot always ties their arguments into knots. The second installment of John Kendrick Bangs "Idiot" series is sure to delight and entertain.

Have you ever had a roommate who was a complete Idiot? The gentlemen in Mrs. Smithers' boarding house have that problem, but what really annoys them is that no matter what subject they discuss, the Idiot always seems to get the better of them! Time after time, their intellectual arguments are dismantled by this man who is a lot smarter than he seems.

"The Idiot" is anything but, yet his fellow boarders at Mrs. Smithers Pedagog's home for single gentlemen see him as such. His brand of creative thought is dismissed as foolishness yet it continues to get under their skin, because when you're beneath contempt you can say what you please. This is the first of John Kendrick Bangs' "Idiot" books and was published by Harper and Brothers in 1895.

New York born John Kendrick Bangs was associate editor and then editor of "Life" and "Harper" magazines, eventually finding his way into the Humour department. Here he began to write his own satire and humour. "Ghosts I Have Met and Some Others" is a delightfully humorous collection of short tales relating encounters with ghosts.