# Mr. Lear — Nonsense Books character guide

> Mr. Lear in Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Edward Lear, Lear, Mr. Edward Lear

**First appearance:** 0000-how-pleasant-to-know-mr-lear

## Snapshot

A big-nosed, runcible-hatted Englishman who turns his own oddities into verse, weeping by oceans and keeping a cat named Old Foss.

## Who they are

Lear is the book's presiding spirit and its most unreliable narrator: a self-described spherical man with a hideous visage, a wig-like beard, and a fondness for Marsala that never tips him. Some find him ill-tempered and queer; a few find him pleasant enough. His habit of making himself the butt of the joke sets the tone for everything that follows, teaching readers that nonsense begins at home.

## Relationships

### [Lord Derby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters/lord_derby)

_professional_

Lord Derby was a patron and employer of Mr. Lear, who worked as his illustrator and drawing master.

## In the story

### [How Pleasant to Know Mr. Lear!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/how-pleasant-to-know-mr-lear)

The subject of the poem, depicted as a whimsical, eccentric figure with a big nose, spherical body, and a fondness for Marsala.

### [Nonsense Books](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/nonsense-books)

The author and narrator of the nonsense tales.

### [A Book of Nonsense](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/a-book-of-nonsense)

The Old Derry down Derry is a playful self-reference to Edward Lear, the author and illustrator.

### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/dedication)

The author and dedicatee of the book.

### [Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/nonsense-songs-stories-botany-and-alphabets)

Author and central figure of the collection

### [More Nonsense Pictures, Rhymes, Botany, etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/more-nonsense-pictures-rhymes-botany-etc)

Author and illustrator of the book; recounts the history of his nonsense works and refutes rumors about their authorship.

### [The New Vestments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/the-new-vestments)

Narrator of the absurd tale

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters/mr_lear
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters