Combined
for the First Time John
Kendrick Bang’s Hilarious Books A
House-Boat on the Styx and
The
Pursuit of the House-Boat
Where do the
“immortal” poets, writers, generals and scientists go to spend
eternity? It turns out they gather in a gentleman’s club, on a
houseboat, on the River Styx—the dividing line between earth and hell.
There they can
discuss poetry, social theory, and the arts. Bacon can argue with
Shakespeare over who wrote Hamlet; Darwin can gain new insights into
evolution from Baron Münchhausen; and P.T. Barnum can question
Noah over his selection of animals for the ark.
But a cloud soon
passes over this idyllic scene. What do you do when Captain Kidd
and his crew highjacks the houseboat while it is filled with the
immortal women? The answer should be obvious—you call in Sherlock
Holmes.
High Praise for A Houseboat in
Hell
William
Thackeray: “Worthy of Dickens.” Charles Dickens:
“Worthy of Thackeray.” Henry VIII: “I
have sent copies to all my wives.”