Comic Relief: Humor in Contemporary American Literature

by Sarah Blacher Cohen

This essay collection serves as an excellent introductory survey of the various comic forms employed in contemporary American literature, such as black comedy, ethnic humor, pop 'dreck' and the urban tall tale. Along the way the reader not only gains insight into the comic technique, but also a finer appreciation for the art of writers like Roth, Vonnegut, Bellow, Barthelme, and Nabokov.

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992