HISTORY OF ENGLISH HUMOUR.

VOL. I.

HISTORY OF ENGLISH HUMOUR

WITH AN

INTRODUCTION UPON ANCIENT HUMOUR.

66

BY THE

REV. A. G. L'ESTRANGE,

AUTHOR OF

THE LIFE OF THE REV. WILLIAM HARNESS,"

HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,

13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

Subjective Character of the Ludicrous-The Subject little Studied-Obstacles to the Investigation-Evanescence -Mental Character of the Ludicrous-Distinction between Humour and the Ludicrous

1

INTRODUCTION.

PART I.

ORIGIN OF HUMOUR.

Pleasure in Humour-What is Laughter ?-SympathyFirst Phases-Gradual Development-Emotional Phase -Laughter of Pleasure-Hostile Laughter-Is there any sense of the Ludicrous in the Lower Animals ?-Samson-David-Solomon-Proverbs-Fables

13