Fumes of Formation

Amanda McKittrick Ros was an Irish writer who is famous for creating ''serious literature'' so uncommonly and astonishingly bad that it is utterly hilarious to read. She is a cult figure in the world of words, inspiring many unsuccessful attempts at imitation and enjoying the admiration of many famous literary figures.

Published in 1933, Fumes of Formation is Amanda McKittrick Ros’ final completed book. It is a masterwork of wonderfully terrible poetry:

''This inventive production was hatched within a mind fringed with Fumes of Formation, the Ingenious Innings of Inspiration and Thorny Tincture of Thought.''

Fumes of Formation, the second book of poetry by the late, great Amanda McKittrick Ros, contains, among many equally astonishing poems, her most famous: ''On Visiting Westminster Abbey'' This is the first sentence:

Holy Moses! Have a look!

Flesh decayed in every nook!

Some rare bits of brain lie here,

Mortal loads of beef and beer,

Some of whom are turned to dust,

Every one bids lost to lust;

Royal flesh so tinged with 'blue'

Undergoes the same as you.

Like all of Amanda’s books this book was self published and only 160 copies were known to have been bound and sold into circulation, meaning that until now Fumes of Formation has been extremely scarce and very expensive.

However, The Amanda McKittrick Ros Society has painstakingly and faithfully reproduced Fumes of Formation (with a high spirited new cover) in both softcover and ebook formats, meaning you can now inexpensively add this timeless tome to your collection and enjoy the incredible masterpiece of deliciously laughable poetry by yourself and with confidants.