History of English Humor (Vol. 1&2) (Annotated)

History of English Humor (Vol. 1&2) offers an ambitious survey of comic expression from classical antecedents and medieval jesting to the refinements of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century wit. L'Estrange treats humor as a historical and moral phenomenon, tracing its movement through satire, parody, drama, anecdote, and social observation. Written in a learned Victorian prose style, the work combines antiquarian range with critical judgment, situating English laughter within broader literary traditions. A. G. K. L'Estrange was a nineteenth-century author, editor, and biographer whose interests lay in cultural history, literary character, and the social meanings of books. His familiarity with memoirs, periodical writing, and the lives of notable English figures helped shape this study's expansive method. The volumes reflect a Victorian confidence that national character could be read through literature, manners, and recurring forms of wit. This work is recommended to readers interested in the genealogy of English comic writing, from coarse popular mirth to polished intellectual humor. Though modern scholarship may revise some of its assumptions, L'Estrange's study remains valuable for its breadth, erudition, and preservation of examples. It will especially reward students of literary history, satire, and Victorian criticism. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - Hand-picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.