This is an examination of facets of humour in the broadest sense, encompassing satire, irony and ridicule. In short, the human attitude to laughter and the use of it to influence public opinion. Aristotle felt that laughter was a distinctive trait of humanity and one that distinguished humans from the animals. On the other hand, the very existence of human beings could be considered a 'joke'. The contributors to this volume are based in a variety of fields, including psychology, drama, theology, sociology, and the humanities and address theories of humour within them. The result is a fascinating insight into the role humour has played in various European cultures throughout their history.