The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum

"The Love Sonnets of a Hoodlum" by Wallace Irwin is a collection of poetic sonnets written in the early 20th century, specifically during the early 1900s. This innovative work takes the traditional sonnet form and infuses it with modern slang and street vernacular, giving voice to a character reflecting on love and heartbreak in a rapidly changing society. The book captures the essence of urban life and the emotional turmoil experienced by a "hoodlum" in a candid yet humorous manner. The collection chronicles the romantic misadventures of the protagonist, Willie, as he navigates feelings of love and jealousy towards his beloved, Mame, while fending off rivals like Kid Murphy. Through a series of sonnets, Willie expresses his insecurities, frustration with societal expectations, and the complexities of love, using vibrant language filled with slang. The poems range from humorous to poignant, offering readers a glimpse into the life of a young man grappling with his self-image and romantic aspirations against a backdrop of lively urban experiences. Ultimately, Irwin's work resonates with themes of longing and heartbreak while maintaining a playful tone reflective of its time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Wallace Irwin was an American writer. Over the course of his long career, Irwin wrote humorous sketches, light verse, screenplays, short stories, novels, nautical lays, aphorisms, journalism, political satire, lyrics for Broadway musicals, and the libretto for an opera. His novel The Julius Caesar Murder Case (1935) represents a subgenre within detective fiction, the mystery novel set in antiquity.