The Jest Book The Choicest Anecdotes and Sayings

by Mark Lemon

pubOne.info present you this wonderfully illustrated edition. The Compiler of this new Jest Book is desirous to make known that it is composed mainly of old jokes, - some older than Joe Miller himself, - with a liberal sprinkling of new jests gathered from books and hearsay. In the course of his researches he has been surprised to find how many Jests, Impromptus, and Repartees have passed current, century after century, until their original utterer is lost in the "mist of ages"; a Good Joke being transferred from one reputed Wit to another, thus resembling certain rare Wines which are continually being rebottled but are never consumed. Dr. Darwin and Sir Charles Lyell, when they have satisfied themselves as to the Origin of Species and the Antiquity of Man, could not better employ their speculative minds than in determining the origin and antiquity of the venerable "joes" which have been in circulation beyond the remembrance of that mythical personage, "the Oldest Inhabitant. "

Genres: Reference, Humor

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1864

About the author

1809-1870
One of the founders and first editor of "Punch" magazine.

Reviews

[Technutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those joke book where to understand the joke you had to be there. I was left scratching my head and only got a couple of chuckles. It would be like us telling jokes about Microsoft to an 1864 person. With no back ground or context the jokes are lost. It makes me wonder what other older texts I have read and missed the joke. Lol

[Eddie Snipes · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was supposed to be humorous, but the only thing funny was the man laughing with my money. It was too horrible to read, and the pages are too think for the outhouse.