Jabberwocky Re-versed

Jabberwocky Re-versed (and other Guinness Versions) by Ronald Barton

Illustrated by John Gilroy

Published in 1935, and printed in Great Britain by John Waddington Limited, Leeds

24 page booklet, “Offered for your entertainment with the compliments of Arthur Guinness, Son and Co., Ltd.”

This series of pamphlets are called “Doctor’s Books” as they were sent to GPs’ surgeries to encourage the drinking of Guinness for medical purposes: very good for nursing mothers for example!

Guinness began doing this in 1933, carried on until World War 2 halted the practice, and they only started again in 1950. The booklets were then produced each year until 1966. They were produced by the advertising agency SH Benson, who made  many of the iconic Guinness ads. This was the second of the booklets that was based on Alice.

Twas grillig, and the City coves

Did scrum and scramble on the pave;

All grimsy were the shopper-droves

In the throat-parched heat-wave.

“Beware of Summer-flop, my son,

The head that aches, the limbs that flag!

Beware of Job-job boredom! Shun

The gloomious Plodder-flag!”

He took his fountain pen in hand;

Long time he toiled, acheiving naught-

Then rested he (and the Secra-tree)

And sat a while in thought

And as in puffish thought he sat,

The Summer-flop, observed by none,

Snalked in and would have knocked him flat-

But then the clock struck one!

Oh welcome chime! Tis Guinness time!

His thirsty lips went smicker-smack!

His langour fled, and clear in head

He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou vanquished Summer-flop?

My son, you know what’s good for you!

Oh glorjous draught!” He leapt, he laughed:

“Give me a Guinness, too!”

On Amazon: JABBERWOCKY RE-VERSED AND OTHER GUINNESS VERSIONS

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