[John Whitworth]

Competition No 115

Two Americans are reducing world literature to episodes of 140 characters (letters or numbers. It is to be called Twitterature, after the bafflingly popular social networking email thingy. Please encapsulate a well-kinown novel or play in not more than 140 characters. Do mention the name of it as well, as I might not know.

Entries to 'Competition No 115 by 28th August. email comps@theoldie.co.uk

I am going to recycle a couple of unsuccessful limericks for the 'Condensing Jane' competition in The Speccie some time ago. Here they are, both less than 140 characters if you don't count spaces, and I reckon you don't.

Pride and Prejudice

Poor Elizabeth Bennett, a honey
Who’s pretty and witty and sunny,
Quite fancies rich Darcy
Who acts a bit arsy.
She wins him and marries the money



Persuasion

Her dad is a terrible prick,
And her sisters both make you quite sick.
How we suffer for Anne
Who rejected her man
When she ought to have snapped him up quick.