19th century, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Russia, Russian, stories
One of the fun things about walking around with a radar permanently programmed to scan the world for fools is the random pleasure of stumbling upon them in unexpected places. Having noted a reference to a household fool in Tolstoy’s War and Peace, I enjoyed...
18th century, dramatic character, England, fooleum, primary source
This arresting drawing, by the Swiss artist Henry Fuseli (Johann Heinrich Füssli) (1741-1825), depicts Edgar feigning madness and approaching King Lear whose madness is painfully real. Its clean, strong lines seem to echo Blake’s style. Also on Lear, see this...
16th century, Europe, fooleum, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Spain, Spanish
This painting depicts the Spanish Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566-1633), Archduchess of Austria, in an affectionate pose with the dwarf natural Madalena Ruiz. Madalena was at court for some forty years from 1565, and is mentioned a number of times in letters...
20th century, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Russia, Russian, stories
Russia has a long and noble tradition of holy fools, and I was struck by this spontaneous example from the Second World War recounted by Vasily Grossman. It seems it was an old soldier who had enough oddity or madness about him to be perceived as a holy fool by his...
10th century, Arabic, Egypt, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories
It was a happy moment to discover this first hand account of a 10th century ‘wise fool’, Sībawayh the Egyptian (897-98 – 968-69 / 284-358). I am grateful to Mathieu Tillier’s paper for bringing him to light and translating a number of episodes...
10th century, Arabic, bibliography, book, Egypt, historical figure, primary source
al‐Ḥasan b.Ibrāhīm b. Zūlāq (Ibn Zūlāq) (919‐998) was a contemporary of the historical ‘wise fool’ known as Sībawayh the Egyptian. About 20 years younger, he was an eyewitness to some of the flying barbs and critiques levelled by Sībawayh at corruption or...
10th century, Arabic, bibliography, Egypt, historical figure, journal paper, research
Mathieu Tillier’s paper brings to light the 10th century ‘wise fool’ (ʿuqalāʾal‐maǧānīn) who rode a donkey or walked through the streets of Fusṭāṭ. Abū Bakr Muḥammad b. Mūsā b. ʿAbd al‐ʿAzīz al‐Kindī al‐ was known as Sībawayh (‘the...
20th century, bibliography, English, Europe, historical figure, Poland, research
Amos Goldberg’s lecture brought a new jester to my attention. Rubinstein cavorted – you cannot say flourished – in the Warsaw Ghetto between 1941 and 1942. Goldberg presents a detailed and touching picture of this poignant character operating in a...
