An Essay on Laughter: Its Forms, Its Causes, Its Development and Its Value

A wise, witty meditation on laughter that still resonates today. An Essay On Laughter opens doors to a richer understanding of why we smile, chuckle, and roar. Sully's classic treatise moves from the form and causes of laughter to its development and value, weaving philosophical essays with literary humour criticism and psychology of laughter. It invites the reader into a thoughtful inquiry into the social function of humour, the moral value of humour, and how humour shapes human relations. Resting on careful observation from Victorian era England into the early twentieth century, the work remains a vivid bridge between Bergson's ideas and enduring modern questions about why we laugh and what laughter does in culture, education, and everyday life. It is a university study resource in spirit, yet accessible as a general readership guide for curious minds. This volume is more than a reprint; it is a cultural treasure and a collector's item. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions, it has been restored for today's readers and for future generations. Whether you are a student of folklore and philosophy, a scholar of classic humour theory, or simply a lover of humane, thoughtful writing, this edition offers fresh insight, quiet delight, and lasting significance.