The Stuffed Owl
An Anthology of Bad Verse
📘 About This Book
The editors of this legendary and hilarious anthology write: "It would seem at a hasty glance that to make an anthology of Bad Verse is on the whole a simple matter . . . On the contrary . . . Bad Verse has its canons, like Good Verse. There is bad Bad Verse and good Bad Verse. It has been the constant preoccupation of the compilers to include in this book chiefiy good Bad Verse." Here indeed one finds the best of the worst of the greatest poets of the English language, masterpieces of the maladroit by Dryden, Wordsworth, and Keats, among many others, together with an index ("Maiden, feathered, uncontrolled appetites of, 59;. . . Manure, adjudged a fit subject for the Muse, 91") that is itself an inspired work of folly.
📖 Summary
The Stuffed Owl, edited by D.B. Wyndham Lewis, is a legendary and hilarious anthology dedicated entirely to the delightfully inept art of bad verse. At first glance, compiling a collection of terrible poetry might seem like a straightforward endeavor, but the editors quickly establish that true bad verse is an intricate craft with its own distinct canons. There is a vast difference between simply bad bad verse and the much more entertaining good bad verse, which is the constant preoccupation of the compilers to showcase within these 324 pages. Published in 2003, this volume gathers the best of the worst moments from some of the greatest poets in the English language. Readers will discover astonishing masterpieces of the maladroit penned by literary giants such as Dryden, Wordsworth, and Keats, alongside a wonderfully curated selection of works by numerous other writers who momentarily lost their footing on Parnassus. The book operates on the premise that even the most celebrated masters of rhyme and meter are capable of extraordinary lapses in judgment, resulting in lines that are unintentionally hilarious, absurd, or bizarrely misplaced. Furthermore, the anthology features an index that stands as an inspired work of folly in its own right, offering delightfully peculiar entries such as Maiden, feathered, uncontrolled appetites of, 59, and Manure, adjudged a fit subject for the Muse, 91. Through this clever arrangement, the collection celebrates the lighter, more vulnerable side of literary history, proving that perfection is vastly overrated and that unintentional folly can be just as entertaining as high art.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Extremely hilarious and entertaining collection
Features poems by legendary English writers
Cleverly distinguishes between different types of bad poetry
Includes a brilliantly funny and unusual index
⚠️ Cons
May not appeal to readers who prefer serious poetry
Focuses heavily on historical poetic styles and authors
❓ FAQ
Who edited The Stuffed Owl? +
The book was edited by D.B. Wyndham Lewis.
What is the main focus of the anthology? +
The anthology focuses on good bad verse, featuring unintentionally clumsy poetry by famous English writers.
Are famous poets included in the book? +
Yes, the book features works by renowned literary figures such as Dryden, Wordsworth, and Keats.
How many pages long is the book? +
The 2003 edition of the book spans 324 pages.
What makes the index special? +
The index is described as an inspired work of folly featuring humorous and bizarre subject headings.
