The Jest of Hahalaba
- by Lord Dunsany
- Playlet
- Fantasy, Weird Fiction, Comedy
- Adults
- Definite Time Travel
- English
- The Jest of Hahalaba by Lord Dunsany, unknown first performance, circa 1926.
Against the advice of his alchemist, Sir Arthur calls up the Spirit of Laughter on New Year’s Eve and asks to see the coming year’s issues of the Times.
—Michael Main
Sir Arthur Strangways: Only a trifle. I wish to see a file of the Times.
Hahalaba:For what year?
Tags
(10)
- Time Periods
- Circa AD 1900 to 1929: The earliest version we saw was set in 1926.
- Time Travel Methods
- Wish Travel: I wish to see a file of the Times.
- Themes
- Fictional Tags
- Angels and Demons: Although the being is called a spirit, it has the look and feel of a demon.
- Genies: Or perhaps it is more of a genie. You decide!
- Spirits: the Spirit of Laughter
- Wish-Granters
- Groupings
Variants
(1)
- The Jest of Hahalaba by Lord Dunsany, unknown first performance, circa 1926.
Derived Works
(1)
- It Happened Tomorrow by Dudley Nichols and René Clair, directed by René Clair (27 March 1944).
Indexer Notes
(1)
- Debut—We suspect that the first performance was in 1926 based on the opening remarks—The last moments of 1926. Bells are ringing in the New Year.—given in it’s publication in The Atlantic, December 1927. Later publications revised the date to the last moments of 1928.