Humor in British Literature, From the Middle Ages to the Restoration - by Don L F Nilsen (Hardcover)

About the Book

Humor began in British literature during the Middle Ages, when Chaucer developed the storytelling tradition along with the ironies that resulted from the juxtaposition of people from different classes and points of view. Shakespeare later developed vernacular and street humor in his comedies, festive humor in his romances and histories, and dark humor in his tragedies. During the Restoration, Congreve established the Comedy of Manners. This book overviews scholarship in humor in British literature from the Middle Ages through the seventeenth century. Chapters are devoted to particular centuries, with authors listed individually within each chapter. Each entry discusses the role of humor in the author's work and includes a bibliography.

The volume begins with an introductory essay on the origins of British humor in the Middle Ages. Chapters then examine British literary humor during particular centuries. Each chapter begins with an overview of humor during that time period. Entries for individual authors follow, with each entry discussing the role of humor in the author's work and providing a bibliography of modern studies. Entries are arranged chronologically to show the development of humor over time, while an index allows alphabetical access to individual authors.

Book Synopsis

Humor began in British literature during the Middle Ages, when Chaucer developed the storytelling tradition along with the ironies that resulted from the juxtaposition of people from different classes and points of view. Shakespeare later developed vernacular and street humor in his comedies, festive humor in his romances and histories, and dark humor in his tragedies. During the Restoration, Congreve established the Comedy of Manners. This book overviews scholarship in humor in British literature from the Middle Ages through the seventeenth century. Chapters are devoted to particular centuries, with authors listed individually within each chapter. Each entry discusses the role of humor in the author's work and includes a bibliography.

The volume begins with an introductory essay on the origins of British humor in the Middle Ages. Chapters then examine British literary humor during particular centuries. Each chapter begins with an overview of humor during that time period. Entries for individual authors follow, with each entry discussing the role of humor in the author's work and providing a bibliography of modern studies. Entries are arranged chronologically to show the development of humor over time, while an index allows alphabetical access to individual authors.

Review Quotes

.,."this book...is informative and stimulating. As a source for future work it should become a citation classic."-Humor

?...this book...is informative and stimulating. As a source for future work it should become a citation classic.?-Humor

?Humor in British Literatureis useful as a starter point in humor studies. It brings together otherwise scattered resources on a somewhat underappreciated field of study.?-The Scriblerian

?Nilsen's work, surveying humor in British literature from the 14th through the 17th centuries, is scholarly and exhaustive. Combining formidable scholarship with extensive bibliographical references, Nilsen presents material chronologically by the author's year of birth.... Strongly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, researchers, and bibliographers, as well as academic and research libraries.?-Choice

..."this book...is informative and stimulating. As a source for future work it should become a citation classic."-Humor

"Humor in British Literatureis useful as a starter point in humor studies. It brings together otherwise scattered resources on a somewhat underappreciated field of study."-The Scriblerian

"Nilsen's work, surveying humor in British literature from the 14th through the 17th centuries, is scholarly and exhaustive. Combining formidable scholarship with extensive bibliographical references, Nilsen presents material chronologically by the author's year of birth.... Strongly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, researchers, and bibliographers, as well as academic and research libraries."-Choice

About the Author

DON L. F. NILSEN is Professor of English Linguistics at Arizona State University and Executive Secretary of the International Society for Humor Studies. His previous books include Humor Scholarship: A Research Bibliography (Greenwood, 1993) and Humor in Irish Literature: A Research Guide (Greenwood, 1996).