The Burlesque Tradition in the English Theatre After 1660

Originally published in 1952 this book assembles what the author called 'the basic jokes' of theatrical burlesque. It traces their pedigrees through the works of the Shakespeare to Leacock. The book distinguishes between burlesque as a literary form and other forms of comedy, such as satire and parody. The book is amply illustrated to showcase the traditional jokes of burlesque: 'Heroic Declamation' for example is represented by a colourful Cruikshank portrait of Mrs. Liston in the part of Queen Dollalolla.

Part 1: Introductory 1. The Nature of Burlesque 2. The Progress of Burlesque 3. Travesty and Mock-Heroic Part 2: The Burlesque Tradition in the English Theatre After 1660 3. Davenant and Buckingham 4. Thomas Duffett 5. John Gay 6. Henry Fielding 7. Henry Carey 8. Richard Brinsley Sheridan 9. John Hookham Frere and George Canning, Thomas Dibdin, Charles Dickens and the English Melodrama 10. The Jolly Jack Tar Joke 11. J. R. Planché12. W. S. Gilbert 13. Bernard Shaw 14. Stephen Leacock 15. Max Beerbohm 16. Pantomime and Ballet.