No. 1649: Keats and Chapman
Flann O'Brien invented this game, which features the two characters above- mentioned. The idea is to involve them both in a long-drawn-out, po-faced but unlikely story, which is finally crowned (or sunk) by an excruciating pun on the part of Keats. Here is a very short example (much finer, longer ones can be found in the Paladin paperback, The Various Lives of Keats and Chapman):
The poet and Chapman once visited a circus. Chapman was very impressed by an act in which lions were used. A trainer entered a cage in which were two ferocious-looking specimens, sat down unconcernedly, took out a paper, and began to read.
`He's reading between the lions,' Keats said. You are invited to try your hand. Between 100-150 words, please. Entries to 'Com- petition No. 1649' by 26 October.
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