Lear's nonsense books were quite popular during his lifetime, but a rumour developed that "Edward Lear" was merely a pseudonym, and the books' true author was the man to whom Lear had dedicated the works, his patron the Earl of Derby.
Lears nonsensböcker var ganska populära under hans livstid, men ett rykte cirkulerade att "Edward Lear" endast var en pseudonym, och att böckernas verkliga författare var mannen till vem Lear dedicerade verken, hans mecenat Earl of Derby.