Southworth presents a reign-by-reign chronicle of the English court fool from his origins in Europe and Ireland to the court of James I.
Fools and Jesters at the English Court
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
John Southworth has combined a lengthy career in the theater as an actor and director with research and writing on the early history of popular entertainment. For eight years he was Artistic Director of Ipswich Arts Theater and he now runs an independent production company.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cafe Eighties Magazine -- Publisher's Pick April 1999,
By A Customer
This review is from: Fools and Jesters at the English Court (Hardcover)
The morning after I finished reading Fools and Jesters of the English Court by John Southworth, I eagerly abandoned my bed and headed over to the Medieval Galleries at the Metropolitan Musuem of Art. I was anxious to test my newfound knowledge and see how many authentic English fools I could identify in the tapestries and stained glass. I knew the best clues would not be as obvious as the traditional jester's cap of bells. Now I know better than that. For casual English history buffs like me, Fools and Jesters of the English Court is an intriguing read, throwing an intensely revealing spotlight on these performers of old and their sometimes complex roles in medieval English society. However, for as many clever and shrewd "fools" who held unique positions of influence over their royal companions, there were just as many whose lives and minds were starkly simple by contrast. Southworth's book is a thorough education in this highly specific slice of England's history and will not be a quick, easy read for anyone not already possessing a related degree. However, for the rest of us, it is worth taking moments away to refer to the English royal family tree or to take the occasional grounding glance at a historical time line to get the best overall understanding of the material. Even without this effort, though, there are many anecdotes throughout that provide a satisfying look backwards at personalities that seldom make it through the filter of historical repetition -- of significant dates; of shocking statistics of battles and plagues; of scandal and brutality attributed to kings and queens.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
foolery well-written,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Fools and Jesters at the English Court (Hardcover)
A nice, scholarly overview for anyone interested in a nice, scholarly overview of English court foolery.
0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good information. Boring.,
By Gomerel (Fantasyland) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Fools and Jesters at the English Court (Paperback)
How can you take a subject like this and make it boring? Read the book and find out.
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