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The Pig-Tale
extremely rare,very good condition
- GenresPoetry
30 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1893
23 people want to read
About the author
Lewis Carroll
6,148 books8,478 followersThe Reverend 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 genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
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 genre of literary nonsense.
Oxford scholar, Church of England Deacon, University Lecturer in Mathematics and Logic, academic author of learned theses, gifted pioneer of portrait photography, colourful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
He also has works published under his real name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 28, 2024
A strange little poem--even for him! This is taken from the obscure Sylvie & Bruno, and was given illustrations in 1975. This really isn't for children, but for collectors, I think.
The poem alternates between the pig tale and a chorus about birds helping various animals do various strange things. The chorus verses are rather forced with made-up words and slant rhymes. But the pig verses are quite good.
A pig is sitting by a pump sobbing because he cannot jump. A camel suggests he do some running to get in shape and then he'll be able to jump. (Can camels jump? I wonder.) The pig doesn't bother to try this. Then a frog comes by and offers to teach the pig to jump. Bend your knees and hop, he says. Surely it's simple! The pig does so, and rams his head into the pump, killing himself. (Yes, really) The camel comes by to lament that the pig was not slim enough to do this thing. The frog laments that now he won't get paid.
Wow! That's a lot to unpack. Reverse Good Samaritan? Don't try to be what you're not? People will always tell fat people that losing weight will solve their problems? If only he had lost weight instead of trying to do something beyond him? I don't know what the moral is supposed to be. Maybe it's just a tragedy like the Walrus and the Carpenter.
The illustrations are incredibly detailed drawings in sepia. Really beautiful. In the chorus verses we get birds, tigers, crocodiles, and cows dressed lavishly like humans. Even a shoebill stork playing the bagpipes. Leonard Lubin had a fun time. The posh pictures really heighten the absurdity.
Not his best work, but fun to have if you love all things Lewis Carroll.
The poem alternates between the pig tale and a chorus about birds helping various animals do various strange things. The chorus verses are rather forced with made-up words and slant rhymes. But the pig verses are quite good.
A pig is sitting by a pump sobbing because he cannot jump. A camel suggests he do some running to get in shape and then he'll be able to jump. (Can camels jump? I wonder.) The pig doesn't bother to try this. Then a frog comes by and offers to teach the pig to jump. Bend your knees and hop, he says. Surely it's simple! The pig does so, and rams his head into the pump, killing himself. (Yes, really) The camel comes by to lament that the pig was not slim enough to do this thing. The frog laments that now he won't get paid.
Wow! That's a lot to unpack. Reverse Good Samaritan? Don't try to be what you're not? People will always tell fat people that losing weight will solve their problems? If only he had lost weight instead of trying to do something beyond him? I don't know what the moral is supposed to be. Maybe it's just a tragedy like the Walrus and the Carpenter.
The illustrations are incredibly detailed drawings in sepia. Really beautiful. In the chorus verses we get birds, tigers, crocodiles, and cows dressed lavishly like humans. Even a shoebill stork playing the bagpipes. Leonard Lubin had a fun time. The posh pictures really heighten the absurdity.
Not his best work, but fun to have if you love all things Lewis Carroll.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2015
The ultimate shitlord tale. Marvellous.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews