Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes and More Ruthless Rhymes

Rating:
Summary: A delightful collection of misanthropic mischief
Review: "Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes and More Ruthless Rhymes," by Harry Graham, is a hilarious collection of humorous poetry that succeeded in making me laugh out loud. A bibliographic note on the copyright page states that the Dover Thrift Edition "is a slightly altered republication of the works originally published in 1899 and 1930 by Edward Arnold, Ltd."

The book contains a series of vicious and macabre rhymes accompanied by entertaining pictures. The poems' topics include death, accidents, cruelty towards the elderly, firearms mishaps, illness, marital discord, and murder of children. A typical poem is "L'Enfant Glace," which begins, "When Baby's cries grew hard to bear, / I popped him in the Frigidaire." A savage mockery of the human condition, "Ruthless Rhymes" is absurd, grotesque, gleefully sadistic--and lots of fun!

Rating:
Summary: Ghastly Little Willie
Review: The antidote for Barney and Mr Rogers. These are short rhymes from a time when children were not so PC. A delightfully gruesome acceptance of children's fascination with the dark and gory.

Rating:
Summary: Hysterical
Review: The best in mean-spirited doggerel. The poetry's not great, but then again, its not supposed to be. If you like the twisted writings of Edward Gorey, this book will make you laugh out loud, and if you share it with people who do not share your outlook, will make them look at you like you just squished a puppy in front of them.