A Book of Burlesques by H. L. Mencken
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"A Book of Burlesques" by H. L. Mencken is a collection of satirical essays and dramatic sketches written in the early 20th century. This compilation showcases Mencken's wit and critique of American culture, touching upon various social themes through humorous and often absurd scenarios. The book likely appeals to readers interested in sharp social commentary wrapped in clever prose. The beginning of "A Book of Burlesques" introduces several skits that reflect on
the futility and absurdity of life, starting with a philosophical discussion about death occurring in a gloomy back parlor. Characters such as pallbearers engage in trivial gossip at a funeral, humorously revealing their discomfort and ignorance about death. This sets a tone for the subsequent pieces, which are expected to offer a mix of critique and comedy, digging into societal norms and practices while maintaining a light-hearted style. The opening is a clever prelude that hints at Mencken's blend of sophistication and irreverence that characterizes the entire collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956 |
|---|---|
| Title | A Book of Burlesques |
| Credits | E-text prepared by Malcolm Farmer, L. N. Yaddanapudi, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 73.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Burlesques |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 22145 |
| Release Date | Jul 25, 2007 |
| Last Update | Jan 2, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 5482 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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