Limericks [Hardcover]

Isaac Asimov (Author), John Ciardi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2000

A witty collection of more than 550 limericks from two world-famous writers, and all of them just 'naughty' enough to make this 'literary form' hilarious fun!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Gramercy; REPRINT Edition edition (May 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517208822
• ISBN-13: 978-0517208823
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of the few small 2nd. hand book I used to have., August 3, 2000

By 

"emilienne" (Look for the silver lining over the rainbow.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Limericks (Hardcover)

I really can not remember if I read all of the limericks, but before leaving I gave this excellent, witty, naughty book to my eldest son, who must have thought his Mom was rather 'naughty' herself to have such a kind of literature! Few of us can write limericks, because in a few words you have to paint the whole picture and what a one that is! I have the highest esteem for Mr. Isaac Asimov, who sadly enough, left us too. I seem to remember he did not enjoy at all flying airplanes. But he left us all sorts of very interesting material to be read by us. I give 5 stars to this collection of limericks. Thank you Mr. Asimov.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, March 20, 2001

By 

"kalisti23" (Mendocino, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Limericks (Hardcover)

Isaac Asimov and John Ciardi were both two brilliant men the likes of whom the world is lucky to have known. Both full of genius in their own way, they were, one imagines, excellent friends, and yet equally excellent enemies.

This is one of the finest collections of limericks I have seen, certainly one of the finest contemporary collections, and the introductions to the two books contained within make the bouquet so much more rich. Their sparring of words, of dashing insults and quick recoveries, is almost as fun to read as the poetry itself.

And the limericks... ah, delightfully scandalous. I suspect you will find yourself respecting John's concept of meter and stylistic master-strokes far above Isaac's, but at the same time will feel that somehow, for all his lack of understanding the mechanics properly, Isaac understands what the content of a limerick is meant to be.

That content, of course dear friends, is most often risque. I would certainly not caution parents against letting their children read this collection, but do be warned: The limerick is a bawdy form, and it is hard to fit anything but lewd intonations into its loose meter.

I recommend this book, for a gift, for something to read on a plane, for something for the WC, a coffee-table book, or any other use you might conceive of. And I will leave you with my own feeble attempt at the form, written post-haste and most likely in poor-taste.

"A book of fine lim'ricks was writ,
And though many said they were just... pooh,
I laughed till I wept,
And this fine book I kept,
And to this day I still will read it."

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected humor from two great minds., July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Limericks: Too Gross (Paperback)

I am not the type to be aroused by a bawdy limerick; nay I seldom get past the first line in a bar. Whilst searching for another book by one of my favorite authors (Asimov) I came across this little number. It certainly demonstrates that one needs to have a command of the language to be a good limericist. Asimov and Ciardi prove this again and again in this slightly racy very intelligent collaboration. From start to finish it was filled with excellent belly laughs and some very thoughtful verses. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to see yet another side of Asimov