The Adventures of Captain Bonneville [Paperback]

Washington Irving (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2001

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1886. Excerpt: ... doubtless originally intended merely to ornament and enliven conversation by little sports of fancy, threatens to overrun and poison the whole, like the baneful ivy which destroys the useful plant it first embellished. Now I look upon an habitual punster as a depredator upon conversation; and I have remarked sometimes one of these offenders, sitting silent on the watch for an hour together until some luckless wight, unfortunately for the ease and quiet of the company, dropped a phrase susceptible of a double meaning;--when pop, our punster would dart out like a veteran mouser from her covert, seize the unlucky word, and after worrying and mumbling at it until it was capable of no further marring, relapse again into silent watchfulness, and lie in wait for another opportunity.--Even this might be borne with, by the aid of a little philosophy; but the worst of it is, they are not content to manufacture puns and laugh heartily at them themselves; but they expect we should laugh with them;--which I consider as an intolerable hardship, and a flagrant imposition on good-nature. Let those gentlemen fritter away conversation with impunity, and deal out their wits in sixpenny bits if they please; but I beg I may have the choice of refusing currency to their small change. I am seriously afraid, however, that our junto is not quite free from the infection; nay, that it has even approached so near as to menace the tranquillity of my elbowchair: for, Will Wizzard, as we were in caucus the other night, absolutely electrified Pindar and myself with a most palpable and perplexing pun; had it been a torpedo, it could not have more discomposed the fraternity. Sentence of banishment was unanimously decreed; but on his confessing that, like many celebrated wits, he was merely retailing other men's ware...

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A truly classic account of the fur trade of the Rockies, firmly written, vivid, accurate, instructive and a pleasure to read."
-- John Francis McDermott, Arizona and the West --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: IndyPublish (November 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588274519
• ISBN-13: 978-1588274519
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,812,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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