Summary of A New and Merrie Prognostication, by William Sommers

Dive into the witty world of William Sommers' 'A New and Merrie Prognostication,' a hilarious Elizabethan satire that critiques society with humor and insight.

Well, well, well, if it isn't the magnum opus of 1623, "A New and Merrie Prognostication," conveniently dropped into our laps as if time travel were actually a thing. Written by none other than the witty William Sommers-the jester in question-this little gem of a book is ostensibly a metrical satire. Picture a medieval roast, but instead of a celebrity on the hot seat, we've got the entire social order being served up on a platter of humor and rhymes.

At its core, this "Merrie Prognostication" appears to be Sommers' attempt at forecasting the future, which-let's be honest-is a task that would make even Nostradamus sweat. Sommers, with his sharp tongue and penchant for jesting, beckons us to a world where he tries to predict events while dishing out clever critiques of the society of his day. Spoiler alert: Whether he was actually right or not is anyone's guess, but it was 1623-let's just assume they had more pressing issues than keeping a close tally of Sommers' predictions.

The playfully chaotic narrative is interspersed with jabs at the nobility and the various "important" figures of his time. Talk about a roast session with a side of witty banter! Sommers targets the over-the-top behaviors, the ridiculous fashions, and the alarming priorities of the upper crust in a way that might make the cast of The Real Housewives blush.

The structure is simple but effective-the book reads like a series of comedic sketches where Sommers shines a spotlight on the absurdities that colored Elizabethan life. One moment you're chuckling at the absurdity of the nobles squabbling over who sat where, and the next you're questioning why everyone seems so obsessed with horoscopes and vague prophesies. Seriously, what even is in the water back then?

Now, let's not forget about the other characters that join Sommers on this literary escapade. There are three chums who tag along, probably in hopes of taking some credit for Sommers' genius. Together, they craft a narrative that may have felt like a Saturday Night Live skit, rife with wit and irony.

If you've ever wondered what advice an Elizabethan sage would give about avoiding pitfalls (and apparently not eating too much garlic), this book is basically the medieval version of your well-meaning but slightly misguided aunt trying to give you life advice-hilarious, but with a few eye-rolls along the way.

In a nutshell, "A New and Merrie Prognostication" is a delightful, rollicking read that pulls back the curtain on the melodrama of Sommers' time, reminding us that absolutely nothing has changed-people still love a good prediction, and they still love tossing their opinions around with fervor.

So, if you're itching for a good laugh and some snarky, historical humor with a side of je ne sais quoi, this little 66-paged wonder might just be your ticket to medieval merriment. Just don't blame Sommers if your future still remains a tad foggy-he's more interested in the jests than the jinxes!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.