Humorous Readings and Recitations

Leopold Wagner (1858 - )

Before radio, television, and electronic mass media, lectures, recitations, public readings, and other public performances were important ways of sharing new works with the public or attracting public attention to issues and authors of the time. Public performance was, in a sense, the internet of its day, as people sought to learn of the world around them, as well as entertain themselves.
This anthology of short humorous pieces was intended as a ready reference of material of all sorts to those who participated in public performance, whether professionally, or as part of a school or community program. The pieces themselves were intended to be read aloud, shared with, and appreciated by, an audience. This intent is not dissimilar to the mission of Librivox in the twenty-first century.
They were written by popular authors of the period, some of whose names are still well known in the twenty first-century, such as J. M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland), W.S. Gilbert (HMS Pinafore) and W.M. Thackeray (Vanity Fair), as well as others whose popularity has waned. (DrPGould)

Genre(s): Humorous Fiction, Short Stories

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface DrPGould
00:01:43
Play 01 Accompanied on the Flute DrPGould
00:18:15
Play 02 The Troubles of a Triplet BettyB
00:05:00
Play 03 Slightly Deaf Julia Mikheeva
00:20:07
Play 04 The Lady Freemason Lynda Marie Neilson
00:19:11
Play 05 What Happened Last Night! Lynda Marie Neilson
00:10:35
Play 06 The Fatal Legs Lynda Marie Neilson
00:08:00
Play 07 The Caliph's Jester Lynda Marie Neilson
00:06:23
Play 08 A Journey in Search of Nothing jimsvox4
00:22:55
Play 09 Gemini and Virgo Lynda Marie Neilson
00:06:55
Play 10 King Bibbs Lynda Marie Neilson
00:23:51
Play 11 Molly Muldoon Lynda Marie Neilson
00:10:19
Play 12 The Harmonious Lobsters annabellesmith
00:16:55
Play 13 The Provincial Landlady Lynda Marie Neilson
00:05:07
Play 14 My Matrimonial Predicament dvlnblkdrs
00:11:33
Play 15 Etiquette BettyB
00:06:29
Play 16 Lost Shepherd Tom Penn
00:15:14
Play 17 Mathematic Madness Lynda Marie Neilson
00:05:45
Play 18 Waiting at Tottlepot Lynda Marie Neilson
00:14:47
Play 19 Married to a Giantess Lynda Marie Neilson
00:14:36
Play 20 The Vision of the Alderman Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:41
Play 21 The Demon Snuffers Lynda Marie Neilson
00:20:19
Play 22 The Walrus and the Carpenter Linda Olsen Fitak
00:05:06
Play 23 My Brother Henry Tom Penn
00:09:12
Play 24 A Night with a Stork Tom Penn
00:08:45
Play 25 The Faithful Lovers Lynda Marie Neilson
00:03:29
Play 26 The Wail of a Banner-Bearer Lynda Marie Neilson
00:13:12
Play 27 The Dream of the Bilious Beadle Lynda Marie Neilson
00:06:37
Play 28 My Friend Treacle Lynda Marie Neilson
00:22:04
Play 29 The Voice of the Sluggard Lynda Marie Neilson
00:04:04
Play 30 Artemus Ward's Visit to the Tower of London Lynda Marie Neilson
00:11:39
Play 31 Mr. Caudle has lent an Acquaintance the Family Umbrella Lynda Marie Neilson
00:09:26
Play 32 Domestic Asides Linda Olsen Fitak
00:02:15
Play 33 The Charity Dinner Lynda Marie Neilson
00:21:32
Play 34 Acting with a Vengeance Lynda Marie Neilson
00:13:58
Play 35 My Fortnight at Wretchedville jimsvox4
00:22:43
Play 36 The Sorrows of Werther Linda Olsen Fitak
00:01:26
Play 37 Moral Music Kathleen Moore
00:09:52
Play 38 Billy Dumps, the Tailor Kathleen Moore
00:08:58
Play 39 On Punning Lynda Marie Neilson
00:04:28
Play 40 Seaside Lodgings Lynda Marie Neilson
00:16:06