Publisher:
Centre for Renaissance and Reformation Studies, Toronto
"Jokes and funny stories concerning outstanding witticisms and hilariously foolish utterances, for the most part expressed in elegant Latin, were held in high regard by humanists across Europe from the second half of the fifteenth century onwards. It...
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Bibliotheca Hertziana - Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte
"Jokes and funny stories concerning outstanding witticisms and hilariously foolish utterances, for the most part expressed in elegant Latin, were held in high regard by humanists across Europe from the second half of the fifteenth century onwards. It was thus as a matter of national and regional pride that Heinrich Bebel (1472/73-1518), humanist poet and academic at the south-west German University of Tübingen, compiled his three books of facetiae (final authorized edition appearing in 1514). The resulting collection of over four hundred anecdotes, quips and amusing proverbial expressions constitutes an extraordinary literary record of what Bebel and his circle of friends, including a number of convivial abbots and priests, found amusing and worthy of their laughter. As a veritable treasure trove for those interested in the history of joking and comedy, Bebel’s collection contains valuable evidence pertaining to both the theory of and practices associated with laughter on the eve of the Reformation in Germany, including the institution of the court fool or jester. This first complete translation in English of Bebel’s many jokes and funny anecdotes will provide readers with a window into a Northern European culture of Renaissance laughter that is learned and yet celebrates the popular, composed in Latin and yet not deaf to the vernacular."--
English translation of Bebel’s three books of facetiae. It is based on Bebel’s final redaction as contained in the print of 1514 (D), later edited by Gustav Bebermeyer
