{"product_id":"2026100005215-secondhand-the-punch-judy-show-history-tradition-and-meaning","title":"The Punch \u0026 Judy Show: History, Tradition And Meaning","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Worn\/faded, no tears\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: Previous owner\u003cbr\u003eCondition remarks: Boards - good. Binding - tight. Clean text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA richly detailed work of cultural history and performance studies, The Punch \u0026amp; 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48820241760475,"sku":"2026100005215-SECONDHAND","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/96b57cd0-af37-4e1b-a227-55c8e37f9bb1.png?v=1780055424","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100005215-secondhand-the-punch-judy-show-history-tradition-and-meaning","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}