The period between the First World War and the fall of the Berlin Wall is often characterized as the age of extremes-while this era witnessed unprecedented violence and loss of human life, it also saw a surge in humorous entertainment in both democratic and authoritarian societies. The Politics of Humour examines how works such as satirical magazines and comedy films were used both to reaffirm group identity and to exclude those who did not belong.

offers an intriguing look at how entertainment helped everyday people make sense of the turmoil of the twentieth century.