Humor began in British literature during the Middle Ages, when Chaucer developed the storytelling tradition along with the ironies that resulted from the juxtaposition of people from different classes and points of view. Shakespeare later developed vernacular and street humor in his comedies, festive humor in his romances and histories, and dark humor in his tragedies. During the Restoration, Congreve established the Comedy of Manners. This book overviews scholarship in humor in British literature from the Middle Ages through the seventeenth century. Chapters are devoted to particular centuries, with authors listed individually within each chapter. Each entry discusses the role of humor in the author's work and includes a bibliography.

The volume begins with an introductory essay on the origins of British humor in the Middle Ages. Chapters then examine British literary humor during particular centuries. Each chapter begins with an overview of humor during that time period. Entries for individual authors follow, with each entry discussing the role of humor in the author's work and providing a bibliography of modern studies. Entries are arranged chronologically to show the development of humor over time, while an index allows alphabetical access to individual authors.