Comic and Curious Verse

William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present ARGO Classics, a historic catalogue of classic fiction read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly abridged and remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.



A collection of the funny, curious verse written during the 19th and 20th centuries, read by some of Britain's most renowned actors.


Humorous and whimsical verse are collated together in these timeless readings of poetry from our funniest writers.


Performed by Sir John Gielgud; Imogen Stubbs; Tim Pigott-Smith; Peter Orr; Wendy Hillier.


This collection includes poems from:
• A.E. Housman
• Benjamin Franklin King
• J.K. Stephen
• A.C. Swinburne
• Lewis Carroll
• Thomas Hardy
• W.S. Gilbert
• Edward Lear
• William McGonagall
• A.H. Clough
• Robert Barnabas Brough
• Thomas Grey
• Lord Byron
• Walter Raleigh
• Oliver Goldsmith
• George Canning
• John Dryden
• Samuel C. Boston
• H.C. Beeching
• C.S. Calverley
• William Walsh
• W.M. Thackeray
• George Coleman
• Hartley Coleridge
• Charles Cros
• George Du Maurier
• W.R. Mardale
• Matthew Prior
• Earl Of Rochester
• Thomas Love Peacock
• Thomas Hood
• Harry Graham