How to behave badly in Elizabethan England: a guide for knaves, fools, harlots, cuckolds, drunkards, liars, thieves, and braggarts

Abstract

Offensive language, insolent behavior, slights, brawls, and scandals-- Elizabethan England was particularly rank with troublemakers. Goodman draws on advice manuals, court cases, and sermons to offer this colorfully crude portrait of offenses most foul. Readers will delight in learning how to time your impressions for the biggest laugh, why quoting Shakespeare was poor form, and why curses hurled at women were almost always about sex (and why we shouldn't be surprised). A celebration of one of history's naughtiest periods, when derision was an art form. -- adapted from jacket.

Contents

Offensive speech -- Insolent, rude and threatening gestures -- Mockery -- Outright violence -- Disgusting habits -- Repulsive bodies -- The complete scoundrel.