'The Owl and the Pussycat' is a well-beloved children's classic and a perfect example of Edward Lear's mastery of 'nonsense'. His works are distinguished by a poet's delight in the sounds of words both real and imaginary. His invented terms 'snail mail' and the infamous 'runcible spoon' (which appears in the Oxford English Dictionary) are hallmarks of a genre which has amused and delighted readers of all ages in a number of delightful publications over the years. This publication brings together his best-loved verse and drawings in a single volume, packed full of choice Leariana, including his exquisite illustrated nonsense alphabets and remarkable bird drawings executed with superb attention to anatomical detail and accompanied by scientific names of the species (The Stripy Bird), Nonsense botany, his famously incomprehensible but delightful limericks, and images of the irrepressible Foss in his heraldic poses (Foss dansant). Packaged as a gift book, this publication has a timeless appeal and is as suitable for children as it is for adults.

Introduction by: Quentin Blake