Research Catalog

Title

A hand-book of Volapük : and an elementary manual of its grammar and vocabulary, prepared from the gathered papers of Gemmell Hunter Ibidem Justice; together with an account of events relating to the annual general meeting of 1891 of the Edinburgh Society for the Propagation of a Universal Language : [a novel] / Andrew Drummond ; edited for the first time by Charles Cordiner.

Author

Drummond, Andrew, 1952-

Publication

Edinburgh : Polygon, 2006.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

315 p.; 22 cm.

Summary

In April 1891, two matters greatly excite the inhabitants of Edinburgh: the decennial Population Census and the Annual General Meeting of the Edinburgh Society for the Propagation of a Universal Language. The General Secretary, Mr Justice, is a militant champion of the highly popular language 'Volapuk'; but he is locked in a battle for with Dr Bosman, a shameless apologist for 'Esperanto'. Mr Justice travels the east coast of Scotland in part conducting classes in the grammar and vocabulary of Volapuk. En route, he recruits a secret ally - an ill-behaved old gentleman who has promised to bring the majority over to the Volapuk camp. But, when the AGM does not deliver the expected victory, treachery is revealed. After an epic debate, some scones, and many cups of tea, Mr Justice decides to kidnap Dr. Bosman, teach him some grammar, and retreat with him to the Mavisbank Private Lunatic Asylum. Tragically, Bosman is the Census Officer for Edinburgh, and his absence during the Census brings unwelcome attention from the authorities.

Alternative Title

Handbook of Volapük

Subject

• 1891
• Volapük > Congresses > Fiction
• Kidnapping > Fiction
• Edinburgh (Scotland) > Census, 1891 > Fiction

Genre/Form

• Fiction
• Humorous fiction
• Historical fiction

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

ISBN

1904598676 (pbk.)

OCLC

• 62761800
• SCSB-12178029

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library