005 - Chapter V

Dive into the whimsical world of Amanda McKittrick Ros, a Northern Irish author whose contributions to literature are as unique as they are entertaining. Much like William McGonagalls poetry and Florence Foster Jenkins singing, Ross novels, published at her own expense, have garnered both admiration and amusement. Among her poetic works, Visiting Westminster Abbey stands out with its unforgettable lines Holy Moses! Take a look! Flesh decayed in every nook! Some rare bits of brain lie here, Mortal loads of beef and beer. Her life, filled with eccentricity and talent, is well-documented online at http//oddbooks.co.uk/amanda/life.html. Notably, literary legends C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, along with The Inklings, celebrated her work through contests of composure while reading her prose. Though her books are now out of print, they fetch high prices in rare book markets. Irene Iddesleigh, her debut novel, explores the all-too-familiar tale of an unhappy, doomed marriage, yet it is the distinctive prose style that sets it apart. (Summary by AJM)