“It is Johnson’s gift that he can make his subjects human and fallible enough that we would…recognize them instantly, while also illuminating what made them heroes.” —Washington Post Book World on Heroes

“Johnson is a clear, intelligent, forceful writer, and nothing if not thorough.” —Wall Street Journal

Paul Johnson, the acclaimed author of Creators, Heroes, and the New York Times bestseller Intellectuals, returns with a captivating collection of biographical portraits of the Western world’s greatest wits and humorists. With chapters dedicated to history’s sharpest tongues and most piercing pens, including Benjamin Franklin, Toulouse-Lautrec, G.K. Chesterton, Damon Runyan, W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, and many more, Johnson’s Humorists is an exciting compendium of our most enduring comical and satirical innovators. 

What connects the melancholy of Dr. Johnson to the mayhem of the Marx Brothers?

• Biographical Portraits: Go beyond the punchlines with richly detailed profiles of Benjamin Franklin, G.K. Chesterton, W.C. Fields, Noël Coward, and more.
• Anatomy of Comedy: Discover Johnson’s brilliant analysis of what makes us laugh, from the meticulously planned chaos of William Hogarth to the melancholy wit of Dr. Johnson.
• Anecdotal History: A master historian’s tour through centuries of wit, revealing how the humor of the Marx Brothers connects to the satire of the 18th century.
• Titans of Wit: An essential volume for fans of Johnson’s acclaimed work, exploring the innovators who shaped our sense of humor.