Showing results by author "F. Anstey" in All Categories

Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) was an English novelist and journalist who wrote his comic novels under the pseudonym F. Anstey. "The Gull" is a strange tale about a man whose sweetheart, on setting sail for Guernsey one evening, romantically promises him that if she should die, she will return to him as a white dove. Next morning he awakes to find a large grey gull has flown into his bedroom overnight....

A delightful collection of humorous classic tales by some of the world's greatest racconteurs.

When P.G. Wodehouse wrote: "It is no use telling me there are bad aunts and good aunts. At the core they are all alike. Sooner or later out pops the cloven hoof." he might as well have been describing poor Francis Flushington's dilemma.

A beastly collection of animal stories from the great storytellers of the world. •The Black Poodle by F. Anstey •Mrs. Packletide’s Tiger by Saki •Pickled Herring by W. W. Jacobs •Curried Cow by Ambrose Bierce •The She-Wolf by Saki •The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe •The Elk by Saki •The Stolen White Elephant by Mark Twain •Memoirs of a Yellow Dog by O. Henry •Sredni Vashtar by Saki •The Grey Parrot by W. W. Jacobs •The Mouse by Saki •The Talking Horse by F. Anstey •Laura by Saki

When Algernon Weatherhead moves into Wisteria Villa, he finds himself living next door to the Currie family, who are besotted with their black poodle Bingo. Algernon falls in love with the Colonel Currie's adopted niece Lillian... but he cannot make friends with Bingo, a dog with a deeply psychotic desire to bite neighbours, tradespeople, the gardener and passers-by. When Algernon shoots Bingo dead by accident, events lead to him burying the body in a shallow grave and pretending the dog has run away.

F. Anstey, writing under the pseudonym Thomas Anstey Guthrie, was a gifted Londoner who, despite his legal training, found fame as a creator of witty pieces for Punch and humorous novels. Mr. Punchs Model Music Hall is a delightful compilation of his comedic works crafted for Punch, encompassing both songs and dramas. True to his style, Anstey masterfully captured the spirit of his era, amplifying the absurdities of life to entertain and provoke thoughtful commentary. - Summary by Don W. Jenkins

Dive into the whimsical world of In Brief Authority, a satirical comedy from 1915 that follows a nouveau riche British family and their quirky nanny as they embark on an extraordinary adventure to Maerchenland, the enchanting land of Fairy Tales. One fateful evening, they find themselves transported in a car drawn by storks, where the familys snobbish matron is mistakenly crowned Queen. Eager to impose her British social customs, she stirs up delightful chaos among the kingdoms gnomes, giants, and a dragon. As the royal family introduces concepts like capitalism and golf, tensions rise when ...

Dive into a delightful collection of ten humorous short stories that will tickle your funny bone and brighten your day. Join Carolin as she narrates these whimsical tales that are sure to entertain and amuse.

Join Peter Tourmalin on an adventurous sea voyage back to England from Australia, as he eagerly anticipates reuniting with his fiancée. However, the long journey quickly turns tedious, exacerbated by the time difference that stretches his boredom. When Peter discovers an intriguing opportunity to deposit his spare time into an account with the Anglo-Australian Joint Stock Time Bank, Limited, he jumps at the chance. This unique account allows him to save his spare moments for future enjoyment, easily withdrawing them whenever he needs a break by presenting a time cheque to any clock. Sounds...

'The Magic H's' is a humorous tale of a young, rich, eligible and attractive young aristocrat: Harald Hipperholme. Tragically, the young man suffers a speech impediment - he is unable to pronounce the letter H - which in polite London society amounts to social death. The young earl sounds more like a Cockney without his H's. He resorts in the first place to elocution lessons but with no success. Then he tries black magic and conjures up a demon who agrees to help him. But of course there is a terrible catch to the deal....