For those of you thinking to take up the mantle of Motley, or just looking for the insite of the mocking mirror this page done in association with Amazon.com may help
Be A Clown by Mark Stolzenberg. I was first introduced to Mark Stolzenbergs works on practical clowning as a branch of acting in his earlier book Clown for circus and stage (now out of print but available thru book search) Be a Clown " is his latest offering on the real work of clowning.
The Birth of Venus and other Tales by Robin Whitethorn My own book of stories and myths is now carried by Amazon and while not quite a book on foolery some of you who appreciate this page might enjoy it.
The Medieval Stage by E.K. ChambersThis is really the fundamental work on the developement of theater and the performing arts, including foolery, from the collapse of Theater during the fall of Rome and the rise of the Christion Church till the begining of the Renaisance era. If you have ever read anyook on the subject it probably had half a dozen to a dozen footnote to The Medieval Stage. In addition Chambers work in tracing the development of Folk Drama from Folk Festival is of value to anyone studing ritual, in this regard it easily stands next to the Golden Bough and The White Goddess on any bookshelf.
The Fool His social and Literary Historyby Enid Welsford This book is out of print but I couldn't seriously discuss Fools literature without including it. Ms. Welsford traces the development of the court fool from such roots as the Celtic Bard, the greek parasite (once a possitive descriptive) the ritual mascot and the scapegoat. Like a proper family tree we see the Fool as a product more of converging than diverging evolution, and can see more clearly why we feel what we feel about fools thanks to Enid Welford's work.
Cirque Du Soleil, SaltimbancoA video by the Circus of the Sun. This group of great performs include more than fools, but thier sence of drama is important to anyone interested in being more than just a trickster. They do not do tricks, they do some simply amazing, almost impossible things within an atmosphere of mystery and drama, they do art. For a spectator it is worth seeing for a performer it is worth studying.
LOVE HAPPY This Marx Brothers flick was writen by Harpo and is a perfect vehicle for the silent red-head, who seems as bound by the laws of physics as jello is by a pair of handcuffs. The plot involves the struggling cast of a poorly financed musical. Harpo is a tramp whose very deep pockets and talent for shop lifting is all that stands between the young artists and starvation. When he unknowingly intercepts a can of sardines containing stolen jewels the real action begins.
City Lights The Biographer Robert Payne contends that the Tramp played by Charlie Chaplin is no other than the great God Pan, whether or not that is the case this in still one of his great vehicles. In it we see the relationship of the fool to the courtly love theme of unattainable love,(the tramp love a blind flower girl who thinks he is a millionaire, to restore her eyesight he must lose her) the ending shots contain some of the most moving footage of the silent film era. The looker room sequince is important demonstration of the ambiguity of the Fool.
The King's Fool: a book about Medieval and Renaissance Fools Writen for ages 9-12 this book has the advantages of being easy reading, well illustrated and adequately footnoted. While not a classic it is at least a good introduction to foolery.
Mushrooms wild, grown wild or stalked
Ok so what does Fungi have to do with foolery?? Aside from psycopedes all these little majical flowers live on the borderline. Four centuries they have mystified and defide science in thier attempts to classify and catalogue the known world. Sara Ann Freedman in her book Hunting Wild mushrooms, The passionate quest, described wonderfully the whole world of gods and geeks in the mushroom culture (a book I highly recommend but is now out of print, like so many good books. It can be special ordered from Amazon or look for it in your library system) I am now rising musooms part time as part of my livelyhood so I am sharing this info with you.
Mushrooms Demystified: AComprehensive Guide to Fleshy Fungi The system outlined and developed by Dave Aurura went a long way to enpowering the geeks (nonscientists) in mushroom identification and it is still I beleave, the best book for identifying mushrooms for beginer or expert
Mushroom Cultivator, A practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home This is the Fundamental work on mushroom cultivation recommended by almost any one I know growing mushrooms for an income.
Growing Gouremt and Medicinal Mushrooms By Paul Stamets,,Even more info on growing mushrooms,,together with the cultivator these two books make up the backbone of mushroom cultivation.