20th century, Europe, fictive fool, Germany, Hebrew / Yiddish, primary source, quotes, stories
From a late 20th century novel set in a concentration camp, the story highlights the fearlessness (or recklessness) of court fool types, including in this case, dwarfs. Here a character alludes to the ease with which a dwarf might hide under a table and, in knowing...
19th century, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Russia, Russian
GAP MAP:Â A gaping hole in our knowledge of jesters, at least in materials available in European languages, concerns examples from Russia. It would do a great service to foolology (fool studies) if a Russian scholar were to dive in and see if they can find more. Â In...
20th century, English, fictive fool, primary source, quotes
This is a fictitious jester, drawing on the Thousand and One Nights, and commenting on the archetypal role of the jester as truth-teller, in this case to the exclusion of any one else. It is this perception of (and tendency among) jesters to speak the truth...
20th century, Europe, Italian, primary source, quotes
Umberto Eco’s Name of the Rose is a gripping medieval whodunnit but also a plea for humanity and humour over extremes of piety and earnestness. Â This advice to the young Adso sums up the dangers of any ideology taken too far and too earnestly – in this...
