In his foreword to The Thirteen Clocks, Thurber mentions that he crafted the story during a period of escapism and self-indulgence. He adds, "Unless modern Man wanders down these byways occasionally, I do not see how he can hope to preserve his sanity."

The Thirteen Clocks is a charming fairy tale brimming with magic, absurdity, swordplay, and clever wordplay. In this fantastical narrative, the unstoppable prince, Zorn of Zorna, saves Saralinda, a beautiful princess, from the grasp of a heartless Duke who kidnapped her as a child. Beneath the light-hearted surface lies a profound moral lesson. Real-world forces, much like the wicked Duke, attempt to seize power by dismissing love, imagination, and escapism. Thurber aims to liberate the reader from these forces, offering simple mental recreation. This story opens the pathways of whimsy and encourages the reader to explore them freely.