02045cam a22003013u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000460011324500250015926400510018430000470023533600260028233700260030833800360033450000310037050801210040152011010052253400450162365300150166885600430168399900170172622145UtSlPG20260610133518.0mcr n260607r2007||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPS1 aMencken, H. L.q(Henry Louis),d1880-195612aA Book of Burlesques 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2007  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2007-07-25  aE-text prepared by Malcolm Farmer, L. N. Yaddanapudi, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team  a"A Book of Burlesques" by H. L. Mencken is a collection of satirical essays and dramatic sketches written in the early 20th century. This compilation showcases Mencken's wit and critique of American culture, touching upon various social themes through humorous and often absurd scenarios. The book likely appeals to readers interested in sharp social commentary wrapped in clever prose.  The beginning of "A Book of Burlesques" introduces several skits that reflect on the futility and absurdity of life, starting with a philosophical discussion about death occurring in a gloomy back parlor. Characters such as pallbearers engage in trivial gossip at a funeral, humorously revealing their discomfort and ignorance about death. This sets a tone for the subsequent pieces, which are expected to offer a mix of critique and comedy, digging into societal norms and practices while maintaining a light-hearted style. The opening is a clever prelude that hints at Mencken's blend of sophistication and irreverence that characterizes the entire collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aBurlesques40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22145  c63289d63289