History of English Humour, Vol. 1 With an Introduction upon Ancient Humour

"History of English Humour, Vol. 1" by A. G. K. L'Estrange is a study into the development of comedy, beginning with early civilizations and carrying through to the budding forms of English humour. It investigates the nature of laughter and analyzes the difference between genuine wit and simple foolishness. The book starts by explaining why humour, though it greatly affects us, hasn't been taken seriously by thinkers and why it's important to understand humour as something that comes from our minds instead of just things we see. It covers Greek and Roman comedy to set the groundwork for understanding how humour changed across different cultures, which helps to understand where English humour began.