Jewish Wry - Essays on Jewish Humor

When the Jews of Eastern Europe came to the United States in the 19th century, they brought with them their own special humor. Developed in response to the dissonant reality of their lives, their self-critical humor served as a source of salvation, enabling them to endure a painful history with a sense of power. In America, the marginal status of immigrant Jews prompted them to use humor a a defense, exaggerating or mocking their ethnicity as events dictated.

Jewish Wry examines the development of Jewish humor in a series of essays on topics that range from Sholom Aleichem's humor to Jewish comediennes through to the humor of Philip Roth. This important book offers enjoyable reading as well as a significant and scholarly contribution to the field.

About the author

Sarah Blacher Cohen is professor of English at The State University of New York at Albany. She is the author of Saul Bellow's Enigmatic Laughter and editor of Comic Releif and From Hester to Hollywood.

Summary

Jewish Wry examines the development of Jewish humor in a series of essays on topics that range from Sholom Aleichem's humor to Jewish comediennes through to the humor of Philip Roth.

Product details

• Assisted by: Sarah Blacher Cohen (Editor)
• Publisher: Wayne State University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.1990
• EAN: 9780814323663
• ISBN: 978-0-8143-2366-3
• No. of pages: 258
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 15 mm
• Weight: 379 g
• Series: Humor in Life and Letters Seri; Humor in Life & Letters S.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories