Punch and Judy in 19th Century America - by Ryan Howard (Paperback)

About the Book

"The hand-puppet play starring the characters Punch and Judy was introduced from England and became popular in the U.S. in the 1800s. This book contains the record of what the author has learned about American Punch players. It explores the significance of the show as a reflection of the attitudes and conditions of its time and place"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The hand-puppet play starring the characters Punch and Judy was introduced from England and became extremely popular in the United States in the 1800s. This book details information on nearly 350 American Punch players. It explores the significance of the 19th-century American show as a reflection of the attitudes and conditions of its time and place. The century was a time of changing feelings about what it means to be human. There was an intensified awareness of the racial, cultural, social and economical diversity of the human species, and a corresponding concern for the experience of human oneness. The American Punch and Judy show was one of the manifestations of these conditions.

Review Quotes

"Recommended"-Choice; "engaging...Howard does an excellent job of conjuring the sordid, freakish environments in which Punch often found refuge in his adopted country"-The Puppetry Journal.

About the Author

Ryan Howard, professor of art emeritus at Morehead State University, is an art historian. He is the author of numerous articles and reviews on the puppet theater and lives in Morehead, Kentucky.