The Limerick: A History, 1820-1920

For more than 200 years, the limerick has been loved for its mordant wit, breathtaking rhymes, swinging rhythm, groaning puns, and ability to paint outrageous mental pictures. This book analyzes the limerick’s origin and evolution as the best-known humorous verse form in the English-speaking world. It also examines previous attempts to capture the history of the limerick, including those that used guesswork, presented flawed conclusions and even contradicted each other. Findings are laid out logically and chronologically, so readers can easily follow the thread of every claim.

Bob Turvey lives in Bristol, England. His published works include popular and scholarly articles on matters limerickal, articles on etymology and travel, illustrated children’s books and scientific papers.