Why do jesters show up almost everywhere, from the courts and tribes of ancient China and the Mogul emperors of India to those of medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas? The universal jester is surveyed in Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World by Beatrice K. Otto. Written with wit and humor, Fools Are Everywhere is the most comprehensive look at these roguish characters who risked their necks not only to mock and entertain but also to fulfill a deep and widespread human and social need.
Prepare for April 1 with an excerpt and an interview with the auhor.