The Genial Idiot

MP3 Audio CD. John Kendrick Bangs another time brings his readers on a trip with the endearing, but rather overconfident and irksome Mr. Idiot.

The Genial Idiot includes these funny contents: He Discusses Maxims and Proverbs; He Discusses the Ideal Husband; The Idiot's Valentine; He Discusses Finance; He Suggests a Comic Opera; He Discusses Fame; On the Decadence of April-Fool's-Day; Spring and its Poetry; On Flat-Hunting; The Housemaid's Union; The Gentle Art of Boosting; He Makes a Suggestion to the Poet; He Discusses the Music Cure; He Defends Campaign Methods; On Short Courses at College; The Horse-Show; Suggestion to Christmas Shoppers; and For a Happy Christmas.

John Kendrick Bangs was an American novelist, humorist, editor and satirist. He was born in Yonkers, New York. His father Francis Nehemiah Bangs was an attorney in New York City, as well as his brother, Francis S. Bangs.

He studied at Columbia College and he came to be the editor of Columbia's literary publication, Acta Columbia, and wrote short stories as an unknown author to entertainment periodicals. He graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Philosophy and Political Science, John attended Columbia Law School but exited to be an Associate Editor of Life under Edward S. Martin. John wrote a number of articles and verses to the periodical. He also issued his first novels.

Then, John quit working to Life to become a writer at Harper's Magazine, Harper's Bazaar and Harper's Young People, although he remained to write for Life. After such, he maintained the designation of Editor of the Departments of Humor for all three Harper's publications and he became an active editor of Harper's Weekly. John also worked for a moment as the first editor of Munsey's Magazine and happened to be the editor of the American edition of the Harper-owned Literature.