Showing results by author "Christopher Morley" in All Categories

Parnassus on Wheels is the story of a marvelous man, small in stature, wiry as a cat, yet Olympic in personality. Roger Mifflin is part pixie, part sage, part noble savage, and all God's creature. With his traveling book wagon, named Parnassus, he moves through the New England countryside of 1915 on an itinerant mission of enlightenment. Mifflin's delight in books and authors is infectious. With his singular philosophy and bright eyes, he comes to represent the heart and soul of the book world.

A delightful collection of 48 essays on various topics of the human condition that caught his fancy. Witty, insightful and funny of course and on occasion thought provoking and even disturbing. From the preface "These sketches gave me pain to write; they will give the judicious patron pain to read; therefore we are quits. I think, as I look over their slattern paragraphs, of that most tragic hour—it falls about 4 p. m. in the office of an evening newspaper—when the unhappy compiler tries to round up the broodings of the day and still get home in time for supper. And yet perhaps the ...

"Parnassus on Wheels" (1917) was Christopher Morley’s first published novel. It tells the story of Roger Mifflin, who sells his travelling book business to 39-year-old Helen McGill. The latter is tired of taking care of her ailing older brother Andrew, a businessman, farmer, and author. The novel is told from the perspective of Mrs McGill and was in part inspired by David Grayson’s novel "The Friendly Road." Morley wrote a sequel to this story called "The Haunted Bookshop.

A collection of short poems on various themes by the author. (Summary by Carmen H)

Roger Mifflin is the somewhat eccentric proprietor of The Haunted Bookshop, a second-hand bookstore in Brooklyn that is "haunted by the ghosts of all great literature." Beginning with the arrival of a young advertising man and the mysterious disappearance of a certain volume from the shelves of the bookshop, a lively and often humorous tale of intrigue unfolds, generously sprinkled with liberal doses of Roger's unique philosophy on literature and book selling. (Summary by J. M. Smallheer)

Chrisopher Morley was an American literary luminary whose prolific writings included novels, essays, poetry, plays and great journalistic output. This collection of essays is wide ranging in topics, many with his characteristic wit. - Summary by Larry Wilson

The great Canadian journalist and humorist ruminates and reflects upon his life and calling in this 1924 little gem. - Summary by david wales

A number of most agreeable Inquirendoes upon Life & Letters, interspersed with Short Stories & Skits, the whole most Diverting to the Reader. (Title page) SHANDYGAFF: a very refreshing drink, being a mixture of bitter ale or beer and ginger-beer, commonly drunk by the lower classes in England, and by strolling tinkers, low church parsons, newspaper men, journalists, and prizefighters. Said to have been invented by Henry VIII as a solace for his matrimonial difficulties. It is believed that a continual bibbing of shandygaff saps the will, the nerves, the resolution, and the finer faculties, but...

Christopher Morley: A modern humorist with the tang of an Elizabethan. Plum Pudding: Thus Mr. Morley entitles his new volume, in which he has occupied himself with books in particular, but also with divers other ingredients such as city and suburban incidents, women, dogs, children, tadpoles, and so on.

Thirty three essays by more or less well-known authors of Britain, the United States, and Canada, each fronted by an introductory paragraph. Early twentieth or late nineteenth centuries. “I think I can offer you, in this parliament of philomaths [lover of learning], entertainment of the most genuine sort;…as brilliant and sincere work is being done to-day in the essay as in any period of our literature. Accordingly the pieces reprinted here are very diverse. There is the grand manner; there is foolery; there is straightforward literary criticism; there is pathos, politics, and the ...

Another collection of mostly short “soliloquys” from Christopher Morley, an American literary luminary, who introduces them thus: “… these pieces were written, day by day, out of the pressure and hilarity and contention of the mind. I have made no attempt to conceal their ephemeral origin. They were almost all written for a newspaper, and contain many references to journalism. … it is remarkable that they should have been written at all: remarkable that any newspaper should take the pains to offer space to speculations of this sort. I have not scrupled, on occasion, to chaff some of ...

Thunder on the Left is a story about—but not for—children. It's a public domain mystery by one of the foremost mystery writers of the early twentieth century, Christopher Morley. The title also has nothing to do with politics. It's a story about children who make some declarations at a birthday party about growing old, only to find themselves whisked into the future for all but the last chapter of the book. Here they live the lives of adults, wanting more out of life, struggling with issues unimagined in their childhood.

"The Haunted Bookshop" is a so called "bibliomystery" (a mystery story set in the world of books) from 1919. It is the story of the eccentric owner of the Haunted Bookshop, Roger Mifflin, who some readers might remember from "Parnassus on Wheels". This second-hand, Brooklyn bookstore is "haunted by the ghosts of all great literature." It is set around the time of the end of World War I. A young man, Aubrey Gilbert, stops by the shop, trying to sell Mifflin advertising copy. He fails but is intrigued by the proprietor.

"Kathleen" is a 1920 novel by Christopher Morley. It tells the story of a group of eight Oxford undergrads who call themselves "The Scorpions." One day, they find a letter that a certain Kathleen wrote to Joe, and they build an idea of who she might be in their head, and are so intrigued, that they decide to go looking for her. Christopher Morley (1890-1957) was an American author, poet and journalist from Pennsylvania. His father was a mathematics professor and his mother a violinist.

Set in a lovingly evoked Brooklyn just after the end of World War I, The Haunted Bookshop cleverly juxtaposes a pair of middle-aged bookshop owners and two young lovers with a nest of German saboteurs, complete with mysterious clues, red herrings, blushing romance, derring-do, a desperate race to the rescue, and an explosion. More important, the novel is an eloquent hymn to the bookseller’s trade and a fervent plea for the revivifying and redemptive power of literature.

Parnassus on Wheels follows the adventurous journey of a unique traveling book-selling business. When the original owner, Roger Mifflin, decides to sell, he passes the torch to 39-year-old Helen McGill, who is yearning for freedom after years of caring for her ailing brother, Andrew. This charming tale explores themes of self-discovery, the love of literature, and the pursuit of independence.

Dive into Mince Pie, a delightful collection of whimsical sketches, poetry, and essays penned by the witty Christopher Morley. In the preface, Morley humorously muses, If one asks what excuse there can be for prolonging the existence of these trifles, my answer is that there is no excuse. But a copy on the bedside shelf may possibly pave the way to easy slumber. This charming compilation is perfect for those who appreciate lighthearted literature that invites a smile without the need for critical scrutiny.

In a quest fueled by curiosity and competition, a group of eight Oxford undergraduates known as the Scorpions stumble upon a letter from Kathleen to Joe. As they piece together the lives of Kathleen and Joe from the words on the page, they embark on a hilarious journey to track down Kathleen herself. The rivalry among the Scorpions leads to a series of entertaining and funny escapades that keep listeners engaged and laughing. (Summary by Kirk Ziegler)

Written on the eve of Prohibition, this captivating narrative explores the potential chaos that could unfold during this tumultuous time. The story presents a dramatic clash of opinions, showcasing outlandish tactics from both sides of the debate—whether its declaring an array of fruits and vegetables as hazardous or concocting ways to intoxicate the masses with breathable alcohol. (Summary by Daryl Wor)

Roger Mifflin's bookshop is no ordinary store. Tucked away in Brooklyn, the Haunted Bookshop doesn't sell ghost stories haunted by the spirits of great literature. When young advertising man Aubrey Gilbert steps inside, he expects a simple business transaction. What he finds instead is a world of intrigue, wisdom, and unexpected danger.