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The Annotated Hunting of the Snark
The definitive guide to one of the most baffling epics of nineteenth-century literature—a companion to The Annotated Alice.
"It's a Snark!"…for whatever else can it be?" Published on April Fools' Day in 1876, Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark remains one of the most amusing and bizarre works of modern verse. Carroll, who completed this clas...more
"It's a Snark!"…for whatever else can it be?" Published on April Fools' Day in 1876, Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark remains one of the most amusing and bizarre works of modern verse. Carroll, who completed this clas...more
Hardcover, 152 pages
Published
October 16th 2006
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published 1876)
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"You must read this book!" the Reviewer cried,
As he searched for a suitable rhyme
But as long as he stole more than half of the words
He was sure he would get there in time.
"You must read this book!" I have said it twice
"Do you think I would lead you astray?
You must read this book!" I have said it thrice,
"So why don't you just do what I say?"
"You must read this book!"
"We have heard t...more
As he searched for a suitable rhyme
But as long as he stole more than half of the words
He was sure he would get there in time.
"You must read this book!" I have said it twice
"Do you think I would lead you astray?
You must read this book!" I have said it thrice,
"So why don't you just do what I say?"
"You must read this book!"
"We have heard t...more
view all 6 comments
Five stars for both content, Lewis Carroll's sublimely weird nonsense epic about an ill-fated hunting mission by a group of bizarre characters, and edition, which contains Martin Gardner's playfully brilliant introduction, extensive annotations, and appendices. Carroll says of his eight fits of Snarkdom that there is no real symbolism- the Snark is just a Snark. Or more precisely, a Boojum. Numerous scholars have pooh-poohed this, arguing that no Victorian writer can understand how he is influen...more
La chasse au Snark est une pépite. Pourtant, même si j’adore l’absurde britannique, lire ce poème me faisait peur. Je suis une lectrice de poésie très médiocre alors avec le côté délirant de Carroll, je craignais de ne rien comprendre et de m’ennuyer. Pour être honnête, je crois que je n’y ai pas compris grand-chose et c’est peut-être aussi la preuve que je ne sais pas lire parce que si Carroll a voulu dire quelque chose ou faire passer un message à travers son texte, je suis passée totalement ...more
"In the midst of the word he was trying to say,
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away-
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see."
Say what!
The original was published on April Fools' Day in 1876, eleven years after the publication of Alice in Wonderland. So, it behooves you to have read Alice first.
Then, you try to read Snark and understand what the heck is going on. I mean, Alice was confusing ...more
In the midst of his laughter and glee,
He had softly and suddenly vanished away-
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see."
Say what!
The original was published on April Fools' Day in 1876, eleven years after the publication of Alice in Wonderland. So, it behooves you to have read Alice first.
Then, you try to read Snark and understand what the heck is going on. I mean, Alice was confusing ...more
Nathan
added it
Probably my favorite poem to date. This so intrigued me that I returned for a reread the same day.
Much longer than "Jabberwocky," this "Agony in Eight Fits" (as Carroll calls it) is an adventurous, mysterious, brain-tugging story of a sailing crew which sets to find a Snark (whatever it is):
"They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care; / They pursued it with forks and hope, / They threatened its life with a railway-share; / They charmed it with smiles and soa...more
Much longer than "Jabberwocky," this "Agony in Eight Fits" (as Carroll calls it) is an adventurous, mysterious, brain-tugging story of a sailing crew which sets to find a Snark (whatever it is):
"They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care; / They pursued it with forks and hope, / They threatened its life with a railway-share; / They charmed it with smiles and soa...more
(review refers to the 2011 edition with the lovely red cover)
I've read this before in complete collections of Lewis Carroll's works, but it must have been a very long time ago. I had entirely forgotten (somehow didn't notice?!) that this epic poem is very obviously related to Jabberwocky. It's set in the same nonsense world, even with mentions of jubjub birds and bandersnatches, and with Jabberwocky words like "uffish," and "frumious." It's a strange little story, and I...more
I've read this before in complete collections of Lewis Carroll's works, but it must have been a very long time ago. I had entirely forgotten (somehow didn't notice?!) that this epic poem is very obviously related to Jabberwocky. It's set in the same nonsense world, even with mentions of jubjub birds and bandersnatches, and with Jabberwocky words like "uffish," and "frumious." It's a strange little story, and I...more
Another book I picked up at the Tate last week in Liverpool. More of the Tove Jansson nostalgic illustrations and a beautiful edition which sat happily in my hands last night as I read it aloud in bed. Thank God i live alone. The wonderful tumble of Carroll's rythmic pulsing verse is such fun to burble out and some of the verses made me smile out loud
'He thought of his childhood, left far far behind-
That blissful and innocent state-
The sound so exactly recalled to his min...more
'He thought of his childhood, left far far behind-
That blissful and innocent state-
The sound so exactly recalled to his min...more
This is a fantastically fun book, and I would recommend it to anybody who has enjoyed Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass or any other story by Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). It's a short narrative poem, and worth the the read.
This is the epitome of nonsense verse and the measure by which I compare all others. The verse is beautifully and nimbly handled without sacrificing the humor or the nonsense.
My version has Martin Gardner's annotations which are helpful, but not necessary. Nonsense isn't supposed to make sense!
I highly recommend this book for adults, children, and pets. It is one of my favorite books that I've re-read several dozen times.
(Added note: Boris Karloff has an exc...more
My version has Martin Gardner's annotations which are helpful, but not necessary. Nonsense isn't supposed to make sense!
I highly recommend this book for adults, children, and pets. It is one of my favorite books that I've re-read several dozen times.
(Added note: Boris Karloff has an exc...more
[These notes were made in 1984. I read this in the 1980 Mayflower Press reprint edition of the 1876 original.:] A handsome little piece of nonsense, illustrated pleasantly by one Henry Holiday. It ends with that immortal line, "For the Snark was a Boojum, you see." A whimsical but rather interesting preface by Carroll enlightens us about the pronunciation of some of his nonsense words, and lets us in on the principle of their construction. Bought chiefly as an addition to my Mayflowe...more
“To seek it with thimbles, to seek it with care;
To pursue it with forks and hope,
To threaten its life with a railway-share;
To charm it with smiles and soap!”
What does it all mean? No one seems to know. Not even Lewis Carroll, apparently. He claimed to have no more idea on what the poem was about than anybody else, although he did mention at one point, "...the whole book is an allegory on the search for happiness." Carroll's acme of Nonsense poet...more
To pursue it with forks and hope,
To threaten its life with a railway-share;
To charm it with smiles and soap!”
What does it all mean? No one seems to know. Not even Lewis Carroll, apparently. He claimed to have no more idea on what the poem was about than anybody else, although he did mention at one point, "...the whole book is an allegory on the search for happiness." Carroll's acme of Nonsense poet...more
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
This poem has some memorable, and famous, lines—"What I tell you three times is true" is a favorite of mathematicians, and figures prominently in Heinlein's The Number of the Beast—but it falls considerably short of the nonsensical perfection that Lewis Carroll achieved in other works (notably Jabberwocky). Martin Gardner's annotations are a great help in understanding the 19-century archaisms (wow, Firefox's spell checker knows archaism!)...more
This poem has some memorable, and famous, lines—"What I tell you three times is true" is a favorite of mathematicians, and figures prominently in Heinlein's The Number of the Beast—but it falls considerably short of the nonsensical perfection that Lewis Carroll achieved in other works (notably Jabberwocky). Martin Gardner's annotations are a great help in understanding the 19-century archaisms (wow, Firefox's spell checker knows archaism!)...more
After reading this twice, I understood it a little more. Typical Carroll in that it is as untypical as an unbirthday. My favorite part is the blank ocean chart, which was actually printed to clarify to the reader that indeed it was an absolute blank. I like this because Carroll teethed with adventure and an absolute blank prepares one for perfect results as whatever you find, will be what you were looking for.
The poem is in Limerick style, run on and contstantly jumping characters...more
The poem is in Limerick style, run on and contstantly jumping characters...more
The Hunting of the Snark is a fun poem of different people in this group of hunters looking for the Snark. Done in proper Lewis Carroll fashion, that is, it's completely random and makes sense without making any sense at all. For example, my favorite quote from the poem when discussing how to find this creature, the Snark: "To seek it with thimbles, to seek it with care; to pursue it with forks and hope; to threaten its life with a railway-share; to charm it with smiles and soap!"
Valerie
added it
If you don't get the annotated version, you may be left wondering about the bathing-machines and why the snark's life could be threatened with railway-shares. It's still a fun book without the background material, but I think the annotations add to the value.
Carroll said he wrote this poem to figure out for himself the meaning of a phrase that popped into his head: 'He softly and suddenly vanished away/for the snark was a boojum, you see'.
Carroll said he wrote this poem to figure out for himself the meaning of a phrase that popped into his head: 'He softly and suddenly vanished away/for the snark was a boojum, you see'.
Actually, I read the Annotated The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll and Martin Gardner, but that edition was not listed here surprisingly. I liked it. The poem is silly but dark at the same time. The annotations made it a better read, because otherwise a lot of the Olde English slang, phrases, references, etc., not to mention Carroll's math & logic references, would have been lost on me.
The poetry is strange and fanciful, yes, unexpected and entertaining details. The copy I read was printed in Great Britain by W & J Mackay LTD, Chatham. There are 39 pages to the story/poem. It's a hard cover with illustrations by Quentin Blake with a note, "The Folio Society 1976" on the title page(s).
Not quite as good as the Alice books. I do love the beginning because it is such an interesting thing to criticize one's own's works but to do it by pointing out one line. Its interesting how Snark has made its way into our modern vernacular. Too bad Boojum didn't.
Mary
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
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A phenomenal book. If the poem itself isn't enough, the Surrealist-inspired drawings bring a whole new dimension to the eight fits. Both Carroll's clever preface and the illustrator's afterword bring amusing and informative context. Love love love.
"Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
- - - -
Still a powerful notion; re. elections
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."
- - - -
Still a powerful notion; re. elections
Rory
rated it
Recommends it for:
people who could name something by Carroll other than the Alice books
So, I've always wondered if our relatively new use of the word "snark," to mean "kinda snide and dismissive" came from this epic poem somehow. I don't think it did, really. Anyway.
Carroll's snark is a snake/shark monster that's being hunted by a group of Bs: a butcher, a beaver, a bellman, etc. This was written for--gasp--a little girl friend of his (supposedly the girl he liked the most after the Liddell sisters). Anyway.
There's no way I'd have manage...more
Carroll's snark is a snake/shark monster that's being hunted by a group of Bs: a butcher, a beaver, a bellman, etc. This was written for--gasp--a little girl friend of his (supposedly the girl he liked the most after the Liddell sisters). Anyway.
There's no way I'd have manage...more
It is the outright nonsensical humor of Lewis Caroll's works that makes them so compelling to read. I always end up in a much better mood after reading his works than before I began. A true classic!
This book has the sense of humor of the Alice stories, but in a rhyme format. The poetry was good enough, but I didn't find any of it all that funny. I thought it was a bit predictable and boring.
I thought I was going to literally die of boredom. Still to this day, I have no clue what the crap a "snark" is any why they were hunting it.
Few wrote nonsense like Lewis Carroll, and few annotated Carroll like Gardner. A quick fun bit of poetry that is wasted on children.
Absolute nonsense, but terrificly fun to read aloud! (Anotated version is helpful if you must have some reason in the rhyme.)
Poetry of the best nonsense kind. I expect I will "softly and suddenly vanish away" before I completely understand it!
You may be familiar with Martin Gardner's "The Annotated Alice", but are you familiar with "The Annotated Snark"? Martin Gardner works his info-in-the-margins magic again on a lesser-known Lewis Carroll poem. Not as much has been written about this lesser work, but it's still fascinating stuff to read, and also to compare and contrast the illustrations done for this work (by Henry Holliday) with the better-known Tenniel drawings. Worth checking out just for the very last illu...more
Armed with care, thimbles, forks, hope, a railway-share, smiles and soap, I'll find that snark. I'm no dope.
Reviewing for Young Adult Reviewers of Southern California
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Lifetime's Read...: The Hunting of the Snark and What Alice Found There | 1 | 1 | Dec 21, 2011 01:32pm |
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The Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by the pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the gen...more
More about Lewis Carroll...
His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass as well as the poems "The Hunting of the Snark" and "Jabberwocky", all considered to be within the gen...more
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“For the snark was a boojum, you see.”
—
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“This was charming, no doubt; but they shortly found out That the Captain they trusted so well Had only one notion for crossing the ocean, And that was to tingle his bell.”
—
3 people liked it
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