A Book of Burlesque: Sketches of English Stage Travestie and Parody

"A Book of Burlesque: Sketches of English Stage Travestie and Parody" by William Davenport Adams is a journey into the world of late 19th-century English stage burlesque. It's not just about the plays themselves, but a close look at the funny writing and how parody was used to make people laugh. Think of it as a family tree of jokes, tracing how humor in English theater changed and grew over time. This book aims to introduce you to what makes burlesque special, pointing out the cleverness and wit that made it so popular, from its early beginnings in old dramas to how it poked fun at big names like Shakespeare. The author explains how burlesque uses a smart mix of making fun of things and copying them in a funny way, setting the stage for an exploration of how these comedic tricks were used across different periods.