Much of modern comedy can be traced back to a bunch of students at Oxford and Cambridge students in the late 1950s and early 1960s. From Fringe to Flying Circus describes that journey from those (male) students putting on a revue to Monty Python and The Goodies.

Obviously reading about the journey is less interesting than watching the comedy but it was good to see the roots of what made me laugh so much as a teenager. ( )

The subtitle of this essential history of British humor is "Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy, 1960-1980." This book covers the humor and comedy that grew out of Cambridge and Oxford universities, including Beyond the Fringe, The Establishment, That Was the Week That Was, Cambridge Circus, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again, The Goodies, Monty Python, The Last Laugh, The Oxford Revue, The Late Show, Where Was Spring?, Not Only But Also, The Frost Report, At Last the 1948 Show, Do Not Adjust Your Set, Rutland Weekend Television, Ripping Yarns, and Fawlty Towers. Illustrated with photos, extensive index. Originally published in 19080. Fantastic. ( )