Mots d'Heures: Gousses, Rames (Paperback)

~ Luis d'Antin van Rooten (Author) "1 The inevitable result of a child marriage..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Nonsense poems in French, when pronounced, sound like English nursery rhymes, such as Humpty Dumpty and Jack Sprat.

Language Notes

Text: English, French

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 20, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140057307
• ISBN-13: 978-0140057300
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #55 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Poetry > Nursery Rhymes
  #59 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Single Authors > Continental European
  #86 in	Books > Entertainment > Humor > Parodies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stupendously clever, hysterically funny, December 14, 1998

By	Catherine S. Vodrey ([e-mail]) (East Liverpool, Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

I am a cousin of the author's, and think that anyone who picks up "Mots D'Heures" should be aware of the amazing life that produced such a witty author. Luis van Rooten was the quintessential Renaissance man. He was trained and worked professionally as an architect; acted in both radio serials and on film (see him as the sassy reporter in the Kirk Douglas film "Detective Story," not to mention his stints in the cinematic classics "Two Years Before the Mast," "The Big Clock" and "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes"); drew and did woodblock prints and painted; and, oh yes, he happened to put out a couple of priceless little volumes of writing as well. Luis' artistic and creative abilities come to full flower in "Mots D'Heures," which requires neither a knowledge of French nor a particular facility with Mother Goose rhymes to enjoy--although both help deepen the reader's appreciation. It is the kind of high-minded silliness that makes you weak from laughter. I cannot recommend the book too highly, and wish it would come back into print, as it makes an excellent gift for anyone with even a glimmer of a sense of humor. You know it's a good book when you have trouble thinking of people who would NOT enjoy it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Phonetics for Fanatics - "Sounds Like....", October 13, 2000

By	Anonymous (London) - See all my reviews

With the spurious title "The D'Antin Manuscript", suspicions are immediately alerted. D'Antin = "downtown", maybe? More than likely.

The book purports to be a rediscovery of a mediaeval French manuscript and is presented with appropriate introduction, notes, etc., the usual machinery of scholars. However, upon reading the poems, the arcane nature of the French renders the lines meaningless. What kind of manuscript is this, anyway? You go with the flow - you chuck "meaning" out the window.

Read them phonetically, and suddenly the poems take shape in a Proustian way, as the nursery rhymes of your youth. Not only is the book great fun to return to a) for a laugh and b) to practise your French accent (you'll need the fluency for, e.g. "Un petit d'un petit" - Humpty Dumpty). It's also great to fake your friends out with this handy little tome.

Bring it back into print!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll take Mother Gousse for 1000 Alex, December 27, 1999

By	Tracy Baxter (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

If you know your Nursery Rhymes, and have a passing knowledge of how to pronounciate french words - you will love this -

Un petit d'un petit S'etonne au Halles Un petit d'un petit Ah! Degres te fallent....

If you are French you probably won't get it because the trick is knowing your Mother Goose. My Dad got a copy from Santa this Christmas, published by Penguin Books in 1980. I hope that info helps some in their search.