Farce and Fantasy  (English, Paperback, Isherwood Robert M.)

A fascinating excursion through the streets and fairs of 18th-century Paris - from cafes to boulevard theatres, and even to freak shows - on a lively investigation of various forms of entertainment, the people who enjoyed them, and the reasons for their popularity. Far more than mere diversion, entertainment was a vital way for people to work out their fantasies as well. Using an imaginative array of sources, Isherwood describes the public's subliminal search for sex, pathos, brutality, and absurdity through certain types of entertainment, and shows how the lower classes often used it to poke fun at the elite. Also examined are the differences and similarities between popular and elite culture. Throughout, the book's carefully researched illustrations bring to life pre-revolutionary France through the eyes of its people.