A Companion to Satire: Ancient and Modern

This collection of twenty-nine original essays surveys satire from its emergence in Western literature to the present.

The Companion is extraordinary in its historical scope, tracking satire from its first appearances in the prophetic books of the Old Testament through the Renaissance and the English tradition in satire to Michael Moore’s satirical movie Fahrenheit 9/11. While many essays explore literary developments in satire from an historical view, other essays reflect directly on topics such as irony and satire, modes of satirical mockery, the mock-biblical, and the character sketch.

All of the contributors are experts published in their field, and all are experienced teachers who can treat complex and rich subjects with insight and clarity.