Laughter At The Foot Of The Cross

At the foot of the Cross, as Jesus hung in agony, the crowd laughed. Christians, ever since, have been ambivalent about laughter. St. Paul banned 'jesting,' but did that include mockery and high spirits? And what were the lessons of Biblical figures like (delighted) Abraham and (disbelieving) Sarah, both in their nineties, who laughed at the news they were about to have a child? Such debates had a deep influence on Erasmus, Rabelais and other great humanist writers. Michael Screech's acclaimed book illuminates both the background and their individual achievements.