Dave

My library had a copy of 'The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas' & I borrowed it today - as you remembered it's bizarre, it's like a crazy dream & is totaly nonsensical & I did enjoy it.

Chapter 1 'It was the 35th of May. And so it was only natural that Uncle Ringel should not be surprised at anything. If what was to happen to him that day had happened only a week before, he would certainly have thought that he or the the rest of the universe had two or three screws loose! But on the 35th of May you must be prepared for anything.'

Another gem (from chapter 6 this time)'...the little girl whose name was Parsley was covered all over with black & white checks ... My daddy is a famous black chieftain of the South Seas. And mummy is a Dutchwoman. Before she married my daddy she was a shorthand-typist in the dessicated coconut factory ...'

The illustrations are great, too - "Hannibal & Gustavus Adolphus were playing with toy soldiers" - "The hens laid fried eggs & bacon" - hen's bum is over the frying pan & fried egg is in the pan!! What next?

Why not see if your local library can get you a copy before you buy one, I'd hate you to be disappointed!

I'm going to have to re-read his other books. I hope I won't be disppointed.

sandra