1. The Owl and the Pussycat

Nicholas Parsons celebrates the life and nonsensical genius of the poet, Edward Lear, creator of the Owl and the Pussycat.

In the first of two programmes, he presents a portrait of the nonsensical genius, which conveys a rounded picture of Lear’s amazing life and unusual personality.

Lear’s remarkable fantasy world is recreated by Nicholas Parsons as he delivers some of Lear’s highly imaginative and delightful nonsense verse including:

The Owl and the Pussycat
The Pobble Who Has No Toes
The Quangle Wangle's Hat
The Jumblies

With Colin Sell at the piano.

Producer: Jonathan James-Moore

First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in April 1995.