Humour can be used as a 'weapon' or as a means of coping with problematic historical events, especially in times of war and crisis. The book presents examples from different cultures (Russia, Europe, USA), from different historical epochs (from the Napoleonic era up to the current time) and from different medias (caricature, journalism, film). By looking at the individual cases it becomes possible to recognize some general structural patterns and to gain a deeper insight into the 'functioning' of humour and laughter.

Elisabeth Cheauré is Professor of Slavic Literature at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and has an additional venia legendi in Gender Studies. Regine Nohejl is a Slavicist and historian of Eastern Europe. She works in the Slavic Studies Department at the University of Freiburg, Germany.