Holy Tango of Literature is a unique and captivating collection mimicking the great writers of literary history. This devilishly witty book has a twist: Each writer's name is rearranged as a title, creating the subject for a parody rendered in the author's style.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
A very funny and possibly classic anthology. -- Mark O'Donnell, author of Let Nothing You Dismay and creator of Hairspray
All bow down to Francis Heaney. He is a gob-smacking genius! -- David Rakoff, author of Fraud
EACH YEAR FINNS say that FRANCIS HEANEY is A REFINANCE SHY of a FANCY EAR SHINE... He's finally arrived. -- Neal Pollack, author of The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature
Francis Heaney displays a verbal dexterity that should commend him to any savvy reader craving the... literary parody experience. -- Randy Cohen, writer of The Ethicist in New York Times Magazine
Heaney's exquisite writing ... and considerable wit are utterly squandered in this trivial literary pastiche-- ... exactly why I loved it ... -- Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times
All bow down to Francis Heaney. He is a gob-smacking genius! -- David Rakoff, author of Fraud
EACH YEAR FINNS say that FRANCIS HEANEY is A REFINANCE SHY of a FANCY EAR SHINE... He's finally arrived. -- Neal Pollack, author of The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature
Francis Heaney displays a verbal dexterity that should commend him to any savvy reader craving the... literary parody experience. -- Randy Cohen, writer of The Ethicist in New York Times Magazine
Heaney's exquisite writing ... and considerable wit are utterly squandered in this trivial literary pastiche-- ... exactly why I loved it ... -- Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times
From the Publisher
Heaney’s work is whip-smart and laugh-out-loud funny. HOLY TANGO (that’s an anagram of "anthology"—see it now?) will send gullible readers scrambling for their old literature textbooks to hunt down ersatz classics.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
You must have this book. To wit, a sample of the brilliance within:
Skinny Domicile
by Emily Dickinson
(actually by Francis Heaney, who wrote poems whose titles are anagrams of canonical poets' names; he used the poets' styles, meters, et al)
I have a skinny Domicile-
Its Door is very narrow.
'Twill keep-I hope-the Reaper out-
His Scythe-and Bones-and Marrow.
Since Death is not a portly Chap,
The Entrance must be thin-
So-when my Final Moment comes-
He cannot wriggle in.
That's why I don't go out that much-
I can't fit through that Portal.
How dumb-to waste my Social Life
On Plans to be-immortal-
Mr. Heaney is a true wordsmith and a _really_ funny one at that. The perfect present for anyone who has ever had to read a sonnet. It's true that I worked with this man at Modern Humorist, but he has added tons of new work (including forms other than poetry) that I haven't seen yet, and I can't wait to get my copy.
Skinny Domicile
by Emily Dickinson
(actually by Francis Heaney, who wrote poems whose titles are anagrams of canonical poets' names; he used the poets' styles, meters, et al)
I have a skinny Domicile-
Its Door is very narrow.
'Twill keep-I hope-the Reaper out-
His Scythe-and Bones-and Marrow.
Since Death is not a portly Chap,
The Entrance must be thin-
So-when my Final Moment comes-
He cannot wriggle in.
That's why I don't go out that much-
I can't fit through that Portal.
How dumb-to waste my Social Life
On Plans to be-immortal-
Mr. Heaney is a true wordsmith and a _really_ funny one at that. The perfect present for anyone who has ever had to read a sonnet. It's true that I worked with this man at Modern Humorist, but he has added tons of new work (including forms other than poetry) that I haven't seen yet, and I can't wait to get my copy.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By R.T.
Format:Paperback
This is wonderful stuff by a true comic polymath. Just read "Likable Wilma" by William Blake, which begins, "Wilma, Wilma, in thy blouse, Red-haired prehistoric spouse" , and you'll know what I mean. I have a conflict of interest here (I drew the pictures) but I laughed hard at Francis Heaney's work before I got tangled up with it, when I first saw it in Mirth of a Nation. Buy The Holy Tango today! The children of America should be committing it to memory!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By j-hay
Format:Paperback
This expertly-crafted and flawlessly erudite effort would be well worth one's attention as a jaw-droppingly-impressive literary stunt, even if it weren't that funny. The fact that it is, on top of everything else, hilarious makes it absolutely irresistible.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hysterical!
I had bought this two years ago at Christmas for my brother and I kept borrowing it to reread. I finally got one for myself and a friend. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen E Liechty
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Laugh Session
This book is incredibly clever and funny, especially if you were an English major or otherwise exposed to the old "canon. Read more
Published on February 6, 2010 by Jane Blanshard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!!
This collection of parodies inspired by anagrams of the authors' names is absolutely hilarious, furiously witty, and truly amazing in its technical virtuosity. Read more
Published on April 1, 2008 by Lichanos
5.0 out of 5 stars
An utter delight!
It takes a certain amount of talent to write a good pastiche, particularly, I think, of poetry. And it takes a certain degree of twisted brilliance to come up with the idea of... Read more
Published on February 23, 2006 by Betty Ragan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't let this one get away
A lovely little book that has proven to be a wonderful introduction to classical poetry in our homeschooling family.
Published on January 17, 2006 by Katje L. Sabin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff!
Francis Heany hits the nail on the head with each of these brilliantly conceived bits. He has a chameleon-like flair for clicking into the rhythm, style and voice of each writer. Read more
Published on October 15, 2005 by Cori Couture
5.0 out of 5 stars
10 Reasons
1 The War Horses of Literature get saddled, bridled, and pranced around the Big Top with about as much reverence as buffoonery. Read more
Published on December 4, 2004 by 2ManyCooks
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