The Wit of Women Fourth Edition

"The Wit of Women" by Kate Sanborn is a compilation of jokes and short narratives that aims to reveal and celebrate the often-overlooked humor of women, created around the end of the 1800s. The book contests the general idea that men are funnier, filled with amusing stories and jokes by or about women, intending to champion the idea that women have always been funny but are not always appreciated for it. The author kicks off the collection by sharing her intention to highlight the way that women have displayed being humorous, since history has not always acknowledged it. She writes about why she wanted to put this collection together, talking about how hard it was to find information while also expressing how thrilled she was to remember all the humor from famous women in history. Through funny insights and a jovial voice, she talks about sad feelings that women poets have, set against the sharp humor she aims to show, preparing readers for a more complete investigation into women’s part in comedy and wit.