Lawrence Epstein's The Haunted Smile tackles a subject both poignant and delightful: the story of Jewish comedians in America. For the past century and more, American comedy has drawn its strength and soul from the comic genius of Jewish performers and writers. An incomplete listing of names makes the point: The Marx Brothers, Jack Benny, Fanny Brice, George Burns, Milton Berle, Jackie Mason, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, Mel Brooks, Alan King, Mort Sahl, Buddy Hackett, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Andy Kaufman, Richard Belzer, Jerry Seinfeld. These men and women, among others, form the canon of Jewish-American comedy. In the words of the Detroit Jewish News , The Haunted Smile "offers us a deep and subtle understanding of how Jewish culture and American openness gave birth to a new style of entertainment." Often the best way to illuminate a point is to recount some of these comedians' own brilliant routines, and Epstein uses the comedian's work to great effect, making for a book that is both a thoughtful work of history and a great deal of fun. "A treasure, full of wisdom and insight-and deep scholarship. Because it's about humor it has to be taken seriously." -- Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela's Ashes and 'Tis "Epstein's storytelling and his ability to provide context keep the book moving, the ideas flowing and the laughs coming." -- Variety "Lively and entertaining ... thoughtful and enlightening.... [A] clearly written, crisply presented chronicle of comedy." -- Los Angeles Times "There is a quite valuable history of much of American comedy culture...in this book." -- The Wall Street Journal "We knew that Jews were funny, but The Haunted Smile tells us why this small group has so dominated comedy." -- Alan Dershowitz, author of Supreme Justice and Chutzpah Lawrence J. Epstein is an English professor and the author of The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America . He frequently lectures on American popular culture and lives with his wife and family on Long Island, New York. Used Book in Good Condition