A Book of Burlesque: Sketches of English Stage Travestie and Parody

A historical and critical survey examines the rise and varieties of English stage burlesque, tracing its roots from early dramatic travesties through later Victorian developments. It classifies burlesque into types — classical, faerie, historical, Shakespearean, operatic, and modern adaptations — and highlights authors' methods, comic strategies, and representative examples. The volume emphasizes literary technique over theatrical production while supplying practical details such as dates and casts where available. Extracts and commentary illustrate how parody reshapes source material, and portraits and bibliographic suggestions guide further reading; extravaganzas and related musical bouffonneries are intentionally excluded.