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

The pompous businessman Paul Bultitude is farewelling his son who is about to set off for his first year at boarding school. Due to the action of a magical stone, the personalities of each are switched into the body of the other. The businessman is forced to relive the experiences of his schoolboy days and the boy takes charge of his father's business.

A delightful collection of light-hearted classic stories from some of the greatest Victorian and Edwardian-era writers.

A superb collection of classic short stories showcasing the variety, depth and imagination of great Victorian writers.

'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....

The Brass Bottle is the story of an architect who bought an antique brass bottle to give to a professor dealing in Mideast antiquities. After the purchase, the architect’s curiosity was aroused, and he removed the stopper in the bottle. And when he did, a big cloud of smoke was released, producing a major surprise when a genie emerged. His name was Fakrash el-Aamash, and he turned out to be a fairy-tale-type character who wound up trying to repay the architect, Horace Ventimore, for giving him release from what amounted to a brass prison.

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

A superb anthology of 40 great classic humorous stories.

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.

Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) was an English novelist and journalist who wrote his comic novels under the pseudonym F. Anstey. 'Caveat Emptor' is a humorous story of a bric-a-brac collector who finds an antique shop in a little German town which appears to be selling the most extraordinary treasures at rock-bottom prices.

This captivating collection showcases seven short stories from some of Englands finest writers of the turn-of-the-century. It opens with the delightful humor of J. M. Barrie, renowned for his creation of Peter Pan. Following Barrie, Israel Zangwill offers another witty tale, known for his keen insights into social and economic issues. The final contribution comes from the immensely popular Marie Corelli, whose poignant storytelling resonates deeply. Despite being less recognized than some of her contemporaries, Corellis literary sales surpassed those of Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G. Wells, and ...

What unfolds when a down-on-his-luck man stumbles upon a brass bottle and inadvertently releases the djinni trapped inside? Expect a whirlwind of misunderstandings, cultural clashes, and laughter. Will the well-meaning djinni provide the assistance his new master desperately seeks, or will his efforts spiral into chaos? (Summary by Guero)

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

In Giants Robe, we follow Mark Ashburn, a disillusioned young teacher at St. Peters Public School for boys, a place he finds himself at odds with. Aspiring to make a name for himself in the literary world, Mark faces a relentless tide of mediocrity and rejection. Everything changes when he reconnects with Vincent, an old friend who is preparing for a journey to his fathers plantation in Ceylon. Vincent asks Mark for a seemingly harmless favor, and in a moment of impulsive courage, Mark agrees—unaware of the profound consequences that await him. This fateful decision spirals into a web of ...

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 ...

F. Anstey, the pen name of Thomas Anstey Guthrie, was a witty London writer whose humorous flair won him acclaim in the pages of Punch and beyond. In Voces Populi, a delightful collection of his best Punch pieces, Anstey explores a variety of amusing scenarios, from the antics of a fraudulent conjuror to a comical dispute over a ladys oversized, obstructive hat at the music hall. Join Don W. Jenkins as he brings this masterful collection to life.

Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, Vice Versa tells the whimsical tale of businessman Paul Bultitude and his anxious son, Dick. As Dick prepares to leave for a daunting boarding school ruled by the fearsome headmaster Dr. Grimstone, his fathers offhand remark that schooldays are the best years of a boys life sparks an unexpected twist. With the help of a magical stone from an uncle in India that grants wishes, they find themselves swapped in body and spirit. Now, Mr. Bultitude must navigate the challenges of school life while Dick takes the helm of his fathers business in the ...

Mark Ashburn is a young teacher at St. Peter's Public School for boys, although he isn't particularly fond of boys. His dream is to make his name in the literary world, but mediocrity and rejection meet him at every turn. Dejected, he meets up with Vincent, an old friend, who is about to travel to his father's plantation in Ceylon and asks a favor of Mark.

Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934) was an English novelist and journalist who wrote his comic novels and humorous short stories under the pseudonym F. Anstey. 'At a Moment's Notice' is the amusing tale of a young man who is involved in a cab accident on Pall Mall. When he comes to after the crash, he has mysteriously been transformed into an organ grinder's monkey. His adventures in his new state are extraordinary and hilarious.

"In Brief Authority" (1915) by F. Anstey is a satiric comedy about a British newly rich family. They are taken in a car drawn by storks to Märchenland - Fairyland, practically. The father and mother have been made King and Queen, and they are keen to practice their new authority to establish their customs in their new reign. The inhabitants of Fairyland - a dragon, a fairy godmother, giants, gnomes, etc. do not really like the new rich as the new rulers. Will there be a magic insurgency? Listen to the recording to find it out!

'Sparkling Biacrene' is a humorous story about a young chemist who invents a marvellous new type of nonalcoholic drink based on a marvellous Amazonian herb with astounding properties. He names his invention 'Sparkling Biacrene' and excitedly invites his uncle to dinner with his employer and a manufacturer of soda waters to discuss the commercial potential of the drink.