Precautionary Tales for Grandparents : Some of Which May Be Read to the Young for Their Moral Improvement

Many of us remember with pleasure Hilaire Belloc's humorous and piquant Cautionary Tales. Ever-popular since publication in 1940, the moral poems were supposedly for children – but, with their satirical reflections on the state of the nation and the human condition, they were also enjoyed by adults. Inspired by the prose and poetry of Belloc, James Muirden has penned these whimsical and well-observed Precautionary Tales to amuse grandparents, and perhaps their grandchildren too, and impart some moral guidance in today's world. Read about Matilda, who was too truthful to be successful in business, and John, who lost at conkers and gained his father some useful publicity. Whether you grew up reading Belloc or not, this compilation of wit in verse is guaranteed to leave you smiling – and may even teach you a valuable lesson or two. Inspired by Hilaire Belloc's Cautionary Tales for Children, whimsical and well-observed precautionary tales to amuse grandparents and impart moral guidance Many readers remember with pleasure Hilaire Belloc's humorous and piquant Cautionary Tales. Ever popular since publication in 1940, the moral poems were supposedly for children, but, with their satirical reflections on the state of the nation and the human condition, were also enjoyed by adults. Likewise, these poems for grandparents will also delight their grandchildren. Read about Matilda, who was too truthful to be successful in business, and John, who lost at conkers and gained his father some useful publicity. Whether you grew up reading Belloc or not, this compilation of wit in verse is guaranteed to leave you smiling, and may even teach you a valuable lesson or two Front Cover; FOREWORD; CONTENTS; PART 1: THE NATURAL WORLD; THE LION; THE TIGER; THE WHALE; THE POLAR BEAR; THE DODO; THE ELEPHANT; THE RHINOCEROS; THE PYTHON; THE PORCUPINE; THE VULTURE; THE CHAMOIS; THE LLAMA; THE VIRUS; PART 2: ROLE MODELS AND BAD EXAMPLES; ABOUT JOHN; ALGERNON; AUNT JANE; CHARLES AUGUSTUS FORTESCUE; FRANKLIN HYDE; GEORGE; GODOLPHIN HORNE; HENRY KING; HILDEBRAND; JACK AND HIS PONY, TOM; JIM; MARIA; MATILDA; PETER GOOLE; REBECCA; TOM AND HIS PONY, JACK; PART 3: PEERS AND OTHER PEOPLE; LORD ABBOTT; LORD ALI-BABA; LORD CALVIN; LORD CANTON; LORD FINCHLEY; LORD HENRY CHASE LORD HEYGATELORD HIPPO; LORD LUCKY; LORD LUNDY; LORD ROEHAMPTON; LORD UNCLE TOM; THE AUTHOR; THE EXAMPLE; WILLIAM SHAND; PART 4: A MODERN ALPHABET; A is for ADDITIVE; B is for BIODEGRADABLE; C is for CARBON DIOXIDE; D is for DVD; E is for EMAIL; F is for FRIENDS REUNITED; G is for GREEN; H is for HOLISTIC; I is for ICONIC; J is for JOGGING; K is for KILOMETRE; L is for LAWYERS; M is for MOBILE; N is for NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH; O is for OZONE; P is for PIN; Q is for THE QUEEN and QUEUING; R is for RELIGIOUS BELIEF; S is for SUSTAINABILITY; T is for TRANSPARENCY; U is for U-TURN V is for VOLUNTEERW is for WASTE; X is for X; Y is for YOB; Z is for ZERO; ENVOI; THE ELECTRON