# Are there any great works of literature that are not funny?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878 "2012-08-08T16:28:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878/81 "2012-08-11T03:59:17Z")

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> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Perhaps that isn’t humorous, but indicative of…whats her name…Carmine?..being totally whacko.

I think it’s pretty funny. Chandler is one of my favorite humorous writers.

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**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878/82 "2012-08-11T06:01:27Z")

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Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are very serious.

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**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878/83 "2012-08-11T07:37:44Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> _Wuthering Heights._ The nearest thing to comic relief is Joseph, and him you just want to shoot.

This must be a winner. Plenty of drama, but humor or comic relief? God no.

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**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878/84 "2012-08-11T14:14:43Z")

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She was a blonde. A blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window. Chandler’s hilarious.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-great-works-of-literature-that-are-not-funny/630878/85 "2012-08-11T14:58:21Z")

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> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> 😕 Maybe I’m just sleepy and missing a whoosh, but my favorite thing about Chandler is how he makes me giggle with a hilarious turn of phrase on virtually every page. [Some samples](http://home.comcast.net/~mossrobert/html/chandlerisms/chandlerisms.htm)

Thanks for that link. This quote became my instant favorite:

“I’m an occational drinker, the kind of guy who goes out for a beer and wakes up in Singapore with a full beard.”

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