Synopses & Reviews
In
Intellectuals, Paul Johnson offered a fascinating portrait of the minds that have shaped the modern world. In
Creators, he examined a host of outstanding and prolific creative spirits. And in Heroes, he brought together a galaxy of commanding figures from the annals of Western history. Now Johnson turns his impressive intellect and piercing insight to the finest wits of the Western world.
Humorists features fascinating and insightful biographical portraits of the greatest wits in history—a diverse cast of legendary funnymen who got a grand kick out of life. Johnsons selective survey includes Benjamin Franklin and the Marx Brothers, Charles Dickens and Damon Runyon, W. C. Fields and Samuel Johnson, William Hogarth and James Thurber, and features their darkest humor, broadest satire, bawdiest wit, most biting sarcasm, and more. An entertaining and erudite collection, Humorists showcases some of our sharpest minds reflecting on the human condition—its follies, pretensions, and foibles—with that greatest of all gifts: humor.
Review
“Warmly appealing . . . . This books long view, and its deep eccentricities, are what give it a burnished glow . . . . Its a pleasure to sit around the gently crackling fire that is Mr. Johnsons mind.” < i=""> New York Times <>
Review
“Johnson masterfully weaves a narrative line among the figures, many of whom dont spring to mind as comic, with a deep appreciation for their wit in writing, filmmaking, painting, and living.” < i=""> Booklist <> (starred review)
Review
“Johnson assembles a truly enlightening and readable history of humor.” < i=""> Washington Post <>
Review
“A rich set of essays . . . . Johnson casts a wide net and he hauls in good material . . . . Fine anecdotes, examples, and insights . . . . Handsomely written.” < i=""> The Economist <>
Synopsis
It is Johnson s gift that he can make his subjects human and fallible enough that we would recognize them instantly, while also illuminating what made them heroes. Washington Post Book World on Heroes
Johnson is a clear, intelligent, forceful writer, and nothing if not thorough. Wall Street Journal
Paul Johnson, the acclaimed author of Creators, Heroes, and the New York Times bestseller Intellectuals, returns with a captivating collection of biographical portraits of the Western world s greatest wits and humorists. With chapters dedicated to history s sharpest tongues and most piercing pens, including Benjamin Franklin, Toulouse-Lautrec, G.K. Chesterton, Damon Runyan, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, and many more, Johnson s Humorists is an exciting compendium of our most enduring comical and satirical innovators. "
Synopsis
Paul Johnson, the acclaimed author of Creators, Heroes, and the New York Times bestseller Intellectuals, returns with a captivating collection featuring the Western world's greatest wits. Benjamin Franklin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, G. K. Chesterton, Damon Runyan, and the Marx Brothers are just a few of the comical and satirical innovators featured in Humorists.
In this collection of chapter-length biographical portraits, Johnson provides a comprehensive tour of great humorists throughout Western history. Filled with satire, sarcasm, dark humor and bawdy wit, this entertaining and erudite collection captures history's sharpest minds as they reflect on the human condition's follies, pretensions, and foibles.
Paul Johnson is the author of many books which cover a wide range of topics, including A History of Christianity, A History of the Jews, Modern Times and Art: A New History. He regularly writes book reviews for several magazines and newspapers, including the Literary Review and the Spectator, and lectures around the world. He lives in London, England.
"Johnson is a clear, intelligent, forceful writer, and nothing if not thorough." -- Wall Street Journal
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Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
“It is Johnsons gift that he can make his subjects human and fallible enough that we would…recognize them instantly, while also illuminating what made them heroes.” —
Washington Post Book World on
Heroes“Johnson is a clear, intelligent, forceful writer, and nothing if not thorough.” —Wall Street Journal
Paul Johnson, the acclaimed author of Creators, Heroes, and the New York Times bestseller Intellectuals, returns with a captivating collection of biographical portraits of the Western worlds greatest wits and humorists. With chapters dedicated to historys sharpest tongues and most piercing pens, including Benjamin Franklin, Toulouse-Lautrec, G.K. Chesterton, Damon Runyan, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, and many more, Johnsons Humorists is an exciting compendium of our most enduring comical and satirical innovators.
About the Author
Paul Johnson is a historian whose work ranges over the millennia and the whole gamut of human activities. He regularly writes book reviews for several UK magazines and newspapers, such as the Literary Review and The Spectator, and he lectures around the world. He lives in London, England.