Half-Hours with the Idiot (ePub)

John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) was an American author, editor, and satirist best known for his work in the genre of 'Bangsian fantasy,' a form of fantasy that concerns the use of famous literary or historical individuals and their interactions in the afterlife. Born in Yonkers, New York, Bangs attended Columbia University where he showed an early interest in writing. Embarking on a career that blended humor with light criticism, he found his niche in the realm of humorous fantasy literature.

Notable among his extensive works is the collection 'Half-Hours with the Idiot' (1898), which exemplifies his characteristic wit and his ability to pierce the veil of everyday life with humor and satire. His novels and short story collections often satirized social and political issues of his time, yet always maintained a light-hearted tone. Bangs served as an editor for various magazines including Harper's Bazaar, and he was an active member of the literary society at The Players Club in New York. His other works include the 'House-Boat on the Styx' series which, along with 'Half-Hours with the Idiot', cemented his reputation as a leading American humorist in the late 19th and early 20th century. Bangs' literary style is marked by his clever dialogue, puns, and lampoon of contemporary society, which maintains relevance in the comedic stylings of present-day literature.