Andiron Tales

by John Kendrick Bangs

Tom was nearly asleep upon that bearskin rug in front of the blazing fire, staring at the two great brazen Andirons that stood in the fireplace. They had big, round, good-natured faces, shining like gold. Their necks were slight and graceful, but as they rounded downward toward handsome feet. They looked very much like a pair of amiable sea serpents.

The logs were burning fiercely and at first Tom thought that the words he heard spoken were nothing but their crackling and hissing -- but then the "Lefthandiron" -- as Tom's uncle once called it -- winked his eye at Tom!

"Hullo, Sleepyhead," said the Andiron.

Tom returned the wink -- too much surprised to say anything to this inanimate object suddenly coming to life!

120 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

John Kendrick Bangs was an American author and satirist, and the creator of modern Bangsian fantasy, the school of fantasy writing that sets the plot wholly or partially in the afterlife.

Reviews

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was a strange children's book, in the vein of Lewis Carroll. Plenty of wordplay and gentleness, and plenty of terrible Bangsian poetry -- really, these poetry crimes need to stop, man.

I'm certain that Bangs writes much better adult fiction and this work proves it. Still, not as awful as his other children's works, though.