02441cam a22003133u 4500 18300 UtSlPG 20260610133427.0 m cr n 260607r2006||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PR L'Estrange, A. G. K. (Alfred Guy Kingan), 1832-1915 History of English Humour, Vol. 1 : With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2006 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2006-05-02 E-text prepared by Barbara Tozier, Janet Blenkinship, Bill Tozier, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team "History of English Humour, Vol. 1" by A. G. K. L'Estrange is an analytical exploration of humorous literature and its evolution written in the late 19th century. The primary focus of this volume is on the origins of humour, weaving through ancient civilisations, Greek and Roman comedic traditions, and into the early development of English humour. L'Estrange aims to uncover the subjective nature of the ludicrous, the different phases of laughter, and the mental characteristics that distinguish humour from mere silliness. The opening portion lays the foundation for this comprehensive study by examining the elusive nature of humour and its general neglect in serious philosophical discourse. L'Estrange discusses how the ludicrous—often fleeting and difficult to define—has been largely overlooked by scholars, despite its significant emotional impact on human interaction. He delves into the psychological aspects of laughter, emphasizing the necessity of understanding humour as stemming from our mental constitution rather than merely from the external world. By presenting both historical and philosophical frameworks, the text sets a compelling stage for exploring how humour developed across different cultures, leading ultimately to English comedic forms. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified English wit and humor -- History and criticism Wit and humor -- History and criticism https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18300 59686 59686