How to Behave Badly in Elizabethan England: A Guide for Knaves, Fools, Harlots, Cuckolds, Drunkards, Liars, Thieves, and Braggarts

The book offers a vibrant exploration of the mischief-makers of Elizabethan England, highlighting a range of societal troublemakers from the upper crust to the lower classes. Ruth Goodman utilizes historical sources such as advice manuals and court cases to paint a vivid picture of the era's offenses and social norms. Readers will find humor in the quirks of the time, including the significance of timing in humor and the cultural implications of Shakespearean quotes. Goodman's engaging style celebrates a period where mockery and derision thrived as forms of expression.