Customer Reviews

A Houseboat on the Styx

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I ran across an 1896 copy of this book in a nearby used book store and snatched it up. A lover of Greek mythology, anything with Styx in the title had to be worthwhile. To my delight, Greek mythology was bombarded with some of the most delightful historical and literary characters ever known, thrown into delicious turmoil. Where else could Napoleon throw a pool cue at Shakespeare. A must have for any reader.

No book more wonderfully captures the wimsey and foibles of mankind, while providing a perspective on historical thought like this book. Delightfull conversations in which P.T. Barnum berates Noah for not saving the more interesting animals, in which Shakespeare and Bacon argue about which of them really wrote Hamlet (and Hamlet responds) are just some of the delightful by-play of this romp in a Gentleman's Club in Hades.

Take a dash of fanatasy , a few dead (?) historical and literary figures, add a dash of whimsey, philosophy that is firmly tongue in cheek and mix with a fine sense of wit. The results are J.K. Bangs "A Houseboat on the Styx". It make take a bit to find this book (which should never be out of print!!) but it is well worth the search.

I read this book as a child fifty years ago. I remember it enough to wonder if it's still available. I remember it as a delightful fantasy in which famous people in history get together on the "Houseboat on the Styx" and inter-relate. It was a delightful peek at historial figures in a unique setting. The best kind of satire.

I haven't read this version, only the original 1896 copy that I happened to pick up at a book sale because I liked the title. John Kendrick Bangs has become one of my favorite authors now. I recomend this book to everyone. It is witty and actually itelligent humor. I would say find the original though, it's usually cheaper than the $...for this copy.

I read the book 20 years ago and searched long and hard to find my own 1896 copy. I'm looking forward to having a copy I can read that I don't have to be so careful with. This book is very funny. The people in the book are folks you haven't thought of in years (and some you may have to look up to compleat your education). I recogmend this book be required reading for any body under 50 (I'm in my 40s).