The Alchemy of Laughter; Comedy in English Fiction

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Format: Trade Book
Pub. Date: 2000-01-15
Publisher(s): Palgrave Macmillan
List Price: $99.95

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Summary

This is the only contemporary critical study to discuss the nature of comedy with exclusive reference to novels. It examines the comic styles of novelists from Fielding and Jane Austen to Waugh and Angus Wilson, as well as less familiar writers such as Ronald Firbank and Sylvia Townsend Warner. Distinguishing between different kinds of humor, it shows how comedy works in practice under changing literary, social, and environmental conditions, and is designed to interest academic and general readers equally.

Author Biography

Glen Cavaliero is Fellow Commoner of St. Catherine's College and a member of the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Acknowledgements xi
The Matter of the Work
1(20)
The nature of a monolith
3(3)
The perception of diversity
6(3)
The fun of the fair
9(6)
Engaging the monolith
15(6)
Aspects of the Comedic Process
21(21)
Parody: the verdict of Lady Locke
22(3)
Farce: the lawlessness of Alfred Polly
25(3)
Irony: the benevolence of Lucilla Marjoribanks
28(2)
Satire: the aspirations of George Robinson
30(3)
Burlesque: the appreciation of Emmeline Lucas
33(2)
Wit: the good humour of Auberon Quin
35(2)
Celebration: the self-respect of Charles Pooter
37(5)
Parodic Comedy: the Separation of Elements
42(19)
First impressions
43(5)
Jane Austen
Gentlemanly relish
48(6)
Max Beerbohm
Saving graces: the Brontes and Cold Comfort Farm
54(3)
Matter for laughter
57(4)
Angus Wilson
Ludic Comedy: the Dissolution of Elements
61(23)
Parlour games
62(8)
Tristram Shandy
These foolish things
70(6)
Ronald Firbank
Lucid ridicule
76(4)
Elizabeth von Arnim
Magnificent obsessions
80(4)
William Gerhardie
Ironic Comedy: the Conjunction of Opposites
84(19)
Basic principles
85(3)
Jonathan Wild
Beginner's luck: Mansfield Park
88(4)
Old Soldiers
92(3)
Barry Lyndon
Whispering shades
95(8)
Henry James
Satirical Comedy: the Disjunction of Opposites
103(24)
Questions of perspective
104(6)
Tom Jones
The whirligigs of time: Vanity Fair
110(3)
Godliness and good behaviour: The Way of All Flesh
113(5)
Non-conforming consciences
118(9)
E. M. Forster
D. H. Lawrence
Subversive Comedy: the Infernal Marriage
127(22)
Egotistical sublimities
128(4)
Humphrey Clinker
Fixed principals
132(4)
Martin Chuzzlewit
Juvenile delinquents
136(6)
Stalky
Saki
Animal crackers
142(7)
Gulley Jimson
Mr White
Intellectual Comedy: the Distillation of Elements
149(23)
Quite the thing
150(5)
Emma
Feasts of reason: Thomas Love Peacock
155(8)
Striking attitudes: The Egoist
163(3)
Family fortunes: Ivy Compton-Burnett
166(6)
Celebratory Comedy: the Accomplished Work
172(25)
The complete consort
173(6)
Joseph Andrews
Innocence abroad: The Pickwick Papers
179(8)
Clerical errors
187(3)
Barchester Towers
A pack of cards
190(7)
Evelyn Waugh
Comedic Stylistics
197(41)
In the van
200(4)
T. F. Powys
Dungeons in Spain
204(4)
Samuel Beckett
A light pastry hand
208(5)
Sylvia Townsend Warner
Propitiating magnates
213(5)
John Cowper Powys
A talent for abuse
218(5)
Wyndham Lewis
A manner of speaking
223(6)
Elizabeth Bowen
Henry Green
The ineluctable modality of the oral
229(9)
James Joyce
Epilogue: the Alchemy of Laughter 238(8)
Notes 246(4)
Index 250

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