The Story of the Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and Pussycat

by Eric Idle

Inspired accompaniment to the nonsense verses of Lear and Carroll, Palin's gorgeous, eccentric paintings present a sweeping vision of a dream world slightly askew. Drawn with a passion for detail, bewigged fish and Dickensian grotesques share the pages with an assortment of animals, insects and children clad in Victorian regalia. The collection includes old favorites as well as lesser-known works (e.g., Carroll's "The King-Fisher Song" and Lear's "The New Vestments"). Whimsical without the slightest trace of coyness, the accomplished artwork delights the eye. All ages.

Genres: Poetry, Audiobook, Picture Books

Audio Cassette

Published December 1, 2001

About the author

Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author and composer of comedic songs. He wrote and performed as a member of the internationally renowned British comedy group Monty Python.

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see there are later editions, which I recommend. I got my edition from Audible and it is not atypical of early Audible editions that it appears significant audio quality was lost in transfer. Here, Idle gives us his zany vision of his backstory to the poem "The Owl and the Pussy-Cat" by Edward Lear. This is quite grand in scope bring in an Ice Age-threatened dinosaur, an evil quasi-deity, an edible rainbow like something from Roald Dahl's Wonka all revolving around pursuit of an ambulatory tree. This is an idea recalling Monty Python: The Walking Tree of Dahomey (with David Attenborough. Other Python flavors emerge, but this is a work to entertain children of all ages, without the crude jokes and stereotypes of many a Python skit. Give me this low brow humor any idea, but stripped of that we want Idle's characteristic deloivery and enjoy the several ditties he performs but those elements are lost in shoddy sound quality.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This is for the book, not the audio book. Goodreads won't let me add the hardback edition, probably because someone else already added it incorrectly.

A fun book, full of the nonsense both Lear and Idle are famous for. It's a slight story, but it held the daughter's interest, even if I had to explain some of the jokes. (She still doesn't get why I laughed so hard about the bagpipes flying south in search of malt liquor. Then again, maybe that's just a tuba thing...)

[Reader Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Far and few, far and few,
Are the lands where the Jumblies live;
Their heads are green, and their hands are blue,
And they went to sea in a Sieve.
When it comes to nonsense verse, no one does it better than Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll.
How delighted I was when I discovered this book of Nonsense Verse. It contains two of my personal favorites; The Jumblies and the Carpenter and the Walrus. Bought with the perfect excuse; to be put away for my granddaughter.
"The time has come." the Walrus said...

[Lesia Waschuk · Rating 2 out of 5]

One word: meh. Eric Idle may be good at writing comedy sketches and even musical plays (I assume, even if I haven’t seen Spamalot, given its “legs” as a production) but he can’t write children’s fiction. This was strictly a vanity project and because of his celebrity he was able to get a publishing house to put it out.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone needs to clean up all the Owl and the Pussycat editions listed on Goodreads. Especially keeping this one separate from all the books that are just the Edward Lear poem. The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat is an expanded story based on the poem. It is 100 pages or so with additional illustrations. It can also be found on audiobook, but I haven't found a copy yet. I would really like to, so I can hear Eric Idle's brilliant songs.

This is an excellent book for fans of Edward Lear, The Phantom Tollbooth, or the Oz books. If you don't enjoy that kind of nonsense, this might not be for you. But I love a truly fantastical story full of puns and rhymes! It is excellent nonsense, bringing in some of Lear's fantastic botanical drawings as well (Many Peeplia Upsidedownia). There is a loose plot: The Owl and Pussycat are going to find the Bong Tree to save the world from the Fire Warlord who wants to freeze the whole world. A dragon goes over a jam waterfall. What more could you want? Great bedtime chapter reading for ages 7-10.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Mr. Mustela frenata · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.78

[Sarahlouise newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Takes your mind away from your grown up worries back to a childhood tale. I listened to Eric read it and that made it even more magical 😊