Whimwondery - by Daniel J T McKay (Hardcover)

About the Book

Whimwondery is a quirky A-Z compendium of Daniel McKay's magical illustrations and tall tales. This exploration of whimsy and wonder journeys through 26 unique inventions and stories, which makes for a fabulously fun and light-hearted read.

Book Synopsis

Whimwondery is the academical study of the magickal properties of elemental curiosity and its two sub-particles - whimsy and wonder. For, as perhaps you have felt yourself deep down in your gizzards, in every spark of curiosity, every maddening ponderation, every look of bafflement and inquisitive squint, is power beyond reckoning. Though not, as has been discovered, entirely beyond the capacities of our imaginations. Indeed, as we have sought to know more about Whimwondery, we have slowly stumbled upon its useful, worthy, and practical applications for solving vexsome sundry irks and problems which arouse particular and general bother - from cold custard to the meaning of the universe. This alphabetarium includes a smattering of such curious contraptions from Agatha Aspinal's Auspicious Archaeofuturometer, to Zurishaddai Zirdlestone's Zooshing Zenithender. Though a mere sampling of some of the inventions devised to channel whimwondrous phenomena they are sure to delight and amuse all whom you would care to furnish with such an odd and uncategorisable tome (in no particular order): acquaintances, friends, friends-of-friends, jilted-lovers, distant relations, neighbours, academical colleagues, drinking-pals, the local parson, your mother and other assorted personages. A splendid gift for all of them, most assuredly!

Review Quotes

"While Daniel's tall tales and evocative illustrations do have something of a Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake feel, his particular blend of wit, charm and irreverence is beyond compare." -Rose Washbourn, Sub-Editor, House & Garden UK

About the Author

DANIEL J. T. McKAY is a Cambridge-based historian, dabbling illustrator, and raconteur. He is the scion of a long line of cattle farmers in the Australian outback. Growing up in a terrible drought, he learnt to draw in the dust of a dry creek-bed. Having since sought out a green and pleasant land, his attention is now constantly being fought over by serious old things in serious old books, and all the other whimwondrous nonsense which is ransacked from his imagination and scrawled and scroobled upon the page by ink-smudged hands. You can find more delights via your Compudiddler at whimwondery.com or on your well-thumbed Telephonogoggler at @whimwondery.