Medieval Mischief: Wit and Humour in the Art of the Middle Ages

Contemporary Review, Nov, 2004

Medieval Mischief: Wit and Humour in the Art of the Middle Ages. Janetta Rebold Benton. Sutton Publishing. [pounds sterling]20.00. xiv 161 pages. ISBN 0-7509-2773-9. This is one of the most delightful as well as enjoyable books on mediaeval topics to appear in many a year. With the help of an enormous number of well chosen illustrations the author shows that 'although medieval art is fundamentally religious in subject, it is not always solemn in presentation'.

She discusses works that were amusing, instructive, surprising, amazing and downright offensive, at least to modern eyes. Her illustrations come from across Europe as well as England. To many this book will come as an eye-opener as well as a learned introduction. To her concluding suggestion that 'God, too, may have a sense of humour' one can only answer in the affirmative and cite the existence of mankind as proof. (J.M.)