Though not directly magic related, this book looks at the rise of the fool and jester, many of whom performed tricks.
Publisher's description:
Clowns, fools (comedians of one kind or another) have been a feature of virtually every recorded culture in the history of civilisation and made significant contributions to the development of early theatre and literary drama. This is certainly true of western European culture, and nowhere more so than in England, where the fool in various disguises is found at the heart of popular dramatic activity from its earliest recorded beginnings.
The focus of this book is a particular type of fool, the court or king's fool, separated from the others by the special relationship he enjoyed with king or ruler as his personal retainer. The author draws on contemporary sources to present a unique, reign-by-reign chronicle of the English court fool from his origins in Carolingian Europe and Celtic Ireland to Archy Armstrong, jester to James I.
Among the topics covered are the 'innocents' or 'natural' fools, the evolution of the Tudor jester from his medieval antecedents, the fools' 'motley' or customary wear, and biographies of Henry VIII's fool, Will Somer, and Shakespeare's player fools, Will Kempe and Robert Armin.
Richly illustrated in colour and black and white, Fools and Jesters at the English Court throws new light on a subject which spans social and cultural history. All those interested in theatrical history and in the origins of an abiding aspect of popular culture will find this a fascinating and revealing book.
Condition: Very good, some wear and a few small tears to dust jacket, otherwise almost as-new.
Binding: Hardback
Year: 1998
Publisher: Sutton
Pages: 216Dimensions (to nearest cm): 25 X 18cm