A celebration of the most groundbreaking women in comedy who used humor to shake up the status quo and change perceptions of gender and comedy forever. The League of Extraordinarily Funny Women celebrates the outstanding contributions of fifty women in comedy past and present. From legends like Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, and Tina Fey to current comedy heroes like Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Abbi Jacobson, and Tig Notaro, this beautifully illustrated book charts a rich lineage of women using humor to speak truth to power, tangle with sensitive subjects, challenge the status quo, and do anything but sit still and stay quiet when laughs are on the line. Some of these women broke boundaries as pioneers on stage as well as in front of and behind the camera. Others penned their way into the history of American humor, redrawing the boundaries of writers' rooms to include diverse voices and perspectives. Through their collective work as stand-ups, sketch and improv comics, humor writers, and slapstick film stars, these women formed a network forged by creativity, guts, and a deep love of what comedy can do and be. In the process, they continue to pass their knowledge and insights from woman to woman, from funny generation to funny generation, offering support, inspiration, and, above all, laughter.

This book introduces readers to the genre of comedy, both on the stage and on the screen. It chronicles the history of comedy, starting with Ancient Greece, before summarising key chapters in Anglophone literary history, such as Shakespearean comedy, Restoration comedy, and Theatre of the Absurd. The book features an overview of key comic techniques (including slapstick, puns, and wit), as well as concise summaries of major theoretical debates (including the superiority theory and the Freudian account of laughter). The book works with many examples from the history of Anglophone comedy, including Oscar Wilde, Monty Python, and classic sitcoms. It addresses current research into cringe humour and the controversial topic of diversity in the field of comedy, and it connects classical tropes of comedy (like the fool or the marriage plot) to present-day examples. The book thus serves as an up-to-date study guide for everyone interested in comedy and its various subgenres.

The Boston region is overrun with classic beauty—cityscapes, snow-capped mountains, tranquil harbors, and sleepy historic hamlets. Show-stopping, scene-stealing, I-pulled-over-for-this charm exists in every season all over the Boston region. All you have to do is open your eyes and see it. Boston and Beyond takes readers on nearly 30 tours—in Boston or an hour or two from the city—through one of the most idyllic parts of America in a wholly unique way. Accompanied by sumptuous photography, Boston and Beyond is a visual love song honoring the essence of what makes the region singular and guides readers to dozens of places that offer hidden charms, fun, novel discoveries, and original experiences. The locations featured in this book are within striking distance of Boston, allowing for convenient day trips and enjoyable excursions to charming locales.

Based on the upcoming motion picture adaptation of the comic book series by 20th Century Fox set for release on July 11. As the British Empire lies in jeopardy, a top-secret initiative unites several of the most notable characters of the age, including Allan Quartermain, Captain Nemo, and Dr. Henry Jekyll. Original.

Contains essays that provide information on various elements of popular culture in the United States during the twentieth century, covering the major areas of film, music, print culture, social life, sports, television and radio, and art and performance. Arranged alphabetically from A-to-D.