Sudden Glory: Laughter as Subversive History (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: caustic laughter, modern joke, excessive laughter, Middle Ages, Lenny Bruce, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Few literary matters are more elusive of definition than the function of laughter. Many thinkers have taken up the burden of explaining its purpose, yet the more they explain, the more that best of gifts to plodding humankind hides its secret springs. If after reading Sanders's book we still seem no nearer to any real understanding of what laughter is, it is certainly not due to any skimping in his research. English professor Sanders (A Is for Ox, Pantheon, 1994) has gathered together a great deal of information on what have made and continue to make humans laugh?starting with the ancient world through the Middle Ages to the present?in relation to the social, intellectual, and doctrinal backgrounds of the times. But the feeling is inescapable that Sanders was at times bewildered by the magnitude of his undertaking and had never quite mastered exactly what he was examining. Not for your average collection.?A.J. Anderson, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

In this wonderful exploration of the meaning of laughter, Barry Sanders queries its uses from the ancient Hebrews to Lenny Bruce, turning up evidence of its age-old power to subvert authority and give voice to the voiceless.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (October 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807062057
• ISBN-13: 978-0807062050
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #517,412 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, May 16, 2001

By	Benjamin J Godsill (Los Angeles, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This book truly works at the essence of what it means to be human, the idea the sentience can be seen as the ability to laugh may seem at times to be a stretch it is argued in such a effortless care-free manner that one is drawn to share the authors conclusions.

Not light reading but well worth the time and effort.