Don Marquis

Don Marquis
Don Marquis (1878–1937) was an American humorist, journalist, and author best known for his creation of the characters Archy and Mehitabel. His works often combined satire and whimsy, with "Archy and Mehitabel" (1927) being one of his most famous books, featuring a poetic cockroach and a free-spirited alley cat. Marquis was also a prolific columnist, writing for newspapers like "The Evening Sun" and "The Saturday Evening Post". His novel "The Old Soak" (1921), a humorous take on Prohibition, was another popular work that contributed to his reputation as a leading American humorist of his time.

Author's Books:


OH, the Beautiful Mud! I always leave it on my boots. It is sacred to me. Because in it are the souls of lilies! The Hog should be a sacred beast. Hogs are Beautiful! They are close to the Mire! Oh, to be a Swine! What is more eloquent than a Sneeze? TheSneeze is the protest of the Free Spirit against theSmug Citizen who never exposes himself to a cold.Oh, Beautiful Sneezes! Oh, to make my life oneloud... more...

CHAPTER I HOW I come not to have a last name is a question that has always had more or less aggervation mixed up with it. I might of had one jest as well as not if Old Hank Walters hadn't been so all-fired, infernal bull-headed about things in gineral, and his wife Elmira a blame sight worse, and both of em ready to row at a minute's notice and stick to it forevermore. Hank, he was... more...

PROEM "SO LET THEM PASS, THESE SONGS OF MINE"   So let them pass, these songs of mine,  Into oblivion, nor repine;  Abandoned ruins of large schemes,  Dimmed lights adrift from nobler dreams,   Weak wings I sped on quests divine,  So let them pass, these songs of mine.  They soar, or sink ephemeral—  I care not greatly which befall!   For if no song I e'er had... more...