The Comedian as Confidence Man: Studies in Irony Fatigue

Introduces the concept of irony fatigue as humorists' internal conflict between the social critic who demands to be taken seriously and the comedian who can never be. Examines the work of eight American literary and performing comedians from the past three centuries, including, Sinclair Lewis, Garrison Keillor, Benjamin Franklin, Lenny Bruce, and Kurt Vonnegut. Also looks at the conflict between Samuel Clemens and Mark Twain. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.