Humour, History and Politics in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages [Paperback]

A collection of essays on the use of humour by late antique and early medieval writers.Although the topic of humour has been dealt with for other eras, early medieval humour remains largely neglected. The essays collected here go some way towards filling the gap, examining how the writers of early medieval sources deliberately employed humour to make their case. The essays range from the late Roman empire through to the tenth century, and from Byzantium to Anglo-Saxon England. The subject matter is diverse, but a number of themes link them together, notably the use of irony, ridicule and satire as political tools.Although the topic of humour has been dealt with for other eras, early medieval humour remains largely neglected. The essays collected here go some way towards filling the gap, examining how the writers of early medieval sources deliberately employed humour to make their case. The essays range from the late Roman empire through to the tenth century, and from Byzantium to Anglo-Saxon England. The subject matter is diverse, but a number of themes link them together, notably the use of irony, ridicule and satire as political tools.Although the topic of humor has been dealt with for other eras, early medieval humor remains largely neglected. The essays collected here attempt to fill the gap, examining how the writers of early medieval sources deliberately employed humor to make their case. The essays range from the late Roman empire through to the tenth century, and from Byzantium to Anglo-Saxon England. The subject matter is diverse, but a number of themes link them together, notably the use of irony, ridicule and satire as political tools.Notes on contributors; Preface; List of abbreviations; Introduction: 'Don't worry, I've got the key' Guy Halsall; Part I. The Fate of Humorous Writing: 1. Laughter and humour in the early medieval Latin west Danuta Schanzer; 2. Humour and the everyday in Byzantium John Haldon; Part II. Humour and the Politics of Difference: lÃ~