Inventing Edward Lear

“Sets the standard for future work. This is criticism that, far from smashing its subject into submission, brings Lear’s poetry, art and music to life, lighting up the imagination and inviting us to revisit the songs and limericks we think we know from childhood.”—Anna Barton, The Times Literary Supplement

“Deeply knowledgeable and sharply written… Lodge has not written a biography of Lear, though her book is full of biographical information. It is more a study in contexts, returning Lear to the local sources from which his apparently autonomous imaginative world originally gathered its strength… [A] rich and sympathetic book.”—Seamus Perry, Literary Review

“Seeks to capture the multiple facets of Lear’s talent… The great achievement of Lodge’s richly illustrated and carefully researched and referenced work is to convey the reach and rigor of Lear’s ‘concrete and fastidious’ mind alongside his discomfiting combination of dazzling self-confidence and intense self-loathing.”—Ranti Williams, Standpoint

“An elegant, well-considered romp.”—The Providence Journal

“Lodge brings to this wide-ranging study of Edward Lear (1812–88) a combination of erudition and enthusiasm.”—Choice

“Inventing Edward Lear is an exceptional, valuable, original study, presenting new materials on aspects of Lear’s life and work.”—Jenny Uglow, author of Mr. Lear and The Lunar Men

“This is a dazzling book, certainly the best study of Lear yet written.”—Richard Cronin, University of Glasgow

“Brilliantly original and deeply researched, Sara Lodge’s account of Lear’s tragicomic life and work will confirm his standing among the greatest of the Victorians.”—Dinah Birch, University of Liverpool

“Edward Lear is one of those figures that everyone knows but few know much about. Lodge’s book represents a delightfully crisp and engaging introduction to Lear’s whole artistic career without losing sight of the humour and zest that keep him close to the hearts of adults and children alike. Never did nonsense make so much sense.”—Jon Mee, University of York