"Edward Lear as Victorian Modernist offers a bold new reading of Lears limericks as foundational works of literary modernism. Far from being mere nonsense for children, Lears picture-limericks--each a fusion of image and verse--operate as bi-modal metaphors that generate meaning through juxtaposition rather than narrative continuity. This interpretive mode, rooted in fragmentation and allusive density, aligns closely with modernist aesthetics. Drawing on Lears letters and unpublished diaries, this study reveals how the irritants, opinions, and idiosyncrasies of his inner life inform these deceptively playful compositions. Through close literary and visual analysis, the book uncovers a layered taxonomy of human types and social commentary, encompassing themes of individuality, society, sexuality, and more. Many of the limericks, often grotesque and unexpectedly beautiful, emerge as sophisticated works of art. The volume also explores Lears influence on the evolution of the limerick, particularly its later eroticization. By grounding interpretation in both biography and cultural context, this monograph repositions Lear not as an outlier but as a key figure in the genealogy of modernist expression"-- Provided by publisher.