Jason Crawford is Professor of English at Union University. His book Allegory and Enchantment was published by Oxford University Press in 2017, and his essays have appeared in publications such as ELH, The Cresset, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He earned his graduate degrees at Harvard and has been a research fellow at Oxford University, at the Huntington Library, and at the University of Tennessee’s Marco Institute. He lives in Tennessee with four funny people and one funny dog.

It is all too easy to forget the deeply subversive dimension of revelation. In this brilliantly original book, Jason Crawford helps us read Christian scripture and tradition through the lens of comic absurdity, linking Francis of Assisi with Lenny Bruce, Perpetua of Carthage with Richard Pryor. A really engaging, accessible, fresh, and challenging study.

• Introduction: What is a Comedian?I. SAINTS1. The Patron Saint of Laughter: Francis of Assisi2. Unlucky Winners: from an Orphan Queen to an Awkward Black GirlII. PROPHETSInterlude: A Joke is a Prophecy3. The Prophet in Agony: from Snuff the Clown to Shakespeare’s Fool4. The Prophet Confesses: Richard PryorIII. MARTYRSInterlude: Comedy is a Carnival5. Hilarious Martyrs: from Perpetua of Carthage to Lawrence of Rome6. Holy Fools: from Thecla in the Desert to Symeon in the CityIV. INNOCENTSInterlude: Rites of Renewal7. The Child Everlasting: Charlie Chaplin8. Apocalyptic ComedyAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

Jason Crawford is Professor of English at Union University. His book Allegory and Enchantment was published by Oxford University Press in 2017, and his essays have appeared in publications such as ELH, The Cresset, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He earned his graduate degrees at Harvard and has been a research fellow at Oxford University, at the Huntington Library, and at the University of Tennessee’s Marco Institute. He lives in Tennessee with four funny people and one funny dog.

It is all too easy to forget the deeply subversive dimension of revelation. In this brilliantly original book, Jason Crawford helps us read Christian scripture and tradition through the lens of comic absurdity, linking Francis of Assisi with Lenny Bruce, Perpetua of Carthage with Richard Pryor. A really engaging, accessible, fresh, and challenging study.

• Introduction: What is a Comedian?I. SAINTS1. The Patron Saint of Laughter: Francis of Assisi2. Unlucky Winners: from an Orphan Queen to an Awkward Black GirlII. PROPHETSInterlude: A Joke is a Prophecy3. The Prophet in Agony: from Snuff the Clown to Shakespeare’s Fool4. The Prophet Confesses: Richard PryorIII. MARTYRSInterlude: Comedy is a Carnival5. Hilarious Martyrs: from Perpetua of Carthage to Lawrence of Rome6. Holy Fools: from Thecla in the Desert to Symeon in the CityIV. INNOCENTSInterlude: Rites of Renewal7. The Child Everlasting: Charlie Chaplin8. Apocalyptic ComedyAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

Jason Crawford is Professor of English at Union University. His book Allegory and Enchantment was published by Oxford University Press in 2017, and his essays have appeared in publications such as ELH, The Cresset, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. He earned his graduate degrees at Harvard and has been a research fellow at Oxford University, at the Huntington Library, and at the University of Tennessee’s Marco Institute. He lives in Tennessee with four funny people and one funny dog.

It is all too easy to forget the deeply subversive dimension of revelation. In this brilliantly original book, Jason Crawford helps us read Christian scripture and tradition through the lens of comic absurdity, linking Francis of Assisi with Lenny Bruce, Perpetua of Carthage with Richard Pryor. A really engaging, accessible, fresh, and challenging study.

• Introduction: What is a Comedian?I. SAINTS1. The Patron Saint of Laughter: Francis of Assisi2. Unlucky Winners: from an Orphan Queen to an Awkward Black GirlII. PROPHETSInterlude: A Joke is a Prophecy3. The Prophet in Agony: from Snuff the Clown to Shakespeare’s Fool4. The Prophet Confesses: Richard PryorIII. MARTYRSInterlude: Comedy is a Carnival5. Hilarious Martyrs: from Perpetua of Carthage to Lawrence of Rome6. Holy Fools: from Thecla in the Desert to Symeon in the CityIV. INNOCENTSInterlude: Rites of Renewal7. The Child Everlasting: Charlie Chaplin8. Apocalyptic ComedyAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex