HUMOUR

A compelling guide to the fundamental place of humour and comedy within Western cultureby one of its greatest exponentsWritten by a n acknowledged master of comedy, this study reflects on the nature of humour and the functions it serves. Why do we laugh? What are we to make of the sheer variety of laughter, from braying and cackling to sniggering and chortling? Is humour subversive, or can it defuse dissent? Can we define wit? Packed with illuminating ideas and a good many excellent jokes, the book critically examines vari ous well-kn...[Read more]