The Punch & Judy Show: History, Tradition And Meaning
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Markings: Previous owner
Condition remarks: Boards - good. Binding - tight. Clean text.
A richly detailed work of cultural history and performance studies, The Punch & Judy Show: History, Tradition and Meaning chronicles the origins, evolution, and enduring significance of one of Britain's most beloved and controversial puppet traditions. Robert Leach traces the show's roots from Italian commedia dell'arte and traveling fairground entertainers through to its Victorian heyday on seaside promenades, presenting a comprehensive account of how this rowdy, anarchic spectacle became embedded in British popular culture. Written with scholarly authority yet an accessible and engaging tone, the work argues that Punch and Judy is far more than mere children's entertainment — it is a subversive theatrical form that reflects deep-seated social attitudes toward authority, violence, and transgression. Leach illustrates how the show's stock characters and ritualistic narrative structure carry layers of symbolic meaning that have resonated with audiences across centuries. This is an essential read for anyone interested in theatre history, folklore, or the cultural forces that shape popular performance traditions.
Author: Robert Leach
Format: Hardback
Published: 1985, Batsford Academic and Educational
Genre: Preforming Arts
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Markings: Previous owner
Condition remarks: Boards - good. Binding - tight. Clean text.
A richly detailed work of cultural history and performance studies, The Punch & Judy Show: History, Tradition and Meaning chronicles the origins, evolution, and enduring significance of one of Britain's most beloved and controversial puppet traditions. Robert Leach traces the show's roots from Italian commedia dell'arte and traveling fairground entertainers through to its Victorian heyday on seaside promenades, presenting a comprehensive account of how this rowdy, anarchic spectacle became embedded in British popular culture. Written with scholarly authority yet an accessible and engaging tone, the work argues that Punch and Judy is far more than mere children's entertainment — it is a subversive theatrical form that reflects deep-seated social attitudes toward authority, violence, and transgression. Leach illustrates how the show's stock characters and ritualistic narrative structure carry layers of symbolic meaning that have resonated with audiences across centuries. This is an essential read for anyone interested in theatre history, folklore, or the cultural forces that shape popular performance traditions.