Magazines and the Revitalization of American Humor

Norris Yates is Professor of English at Iowa State and widely respected critic of American humor. He is the author of The American Humorist: Conscience of the Twentieth Century, an important critical survey of modern American humor. His other books include William T. Porter and the Spirit of the Times, a study of frontier humor; and Robert Benchley, a study of the well known twentieth century humorist. He teaches courses in American literature and modern fiction at Iowa State.

Walter Harrison is Instructor of English at Iowa State, where he teaches writing courses. Mr. Harrison has written on American humorists Ring Lardner, James Thurber, and Philip Roth. His most recent article is "Six-Pointed Diamond: Baseball and American Jews."
Part of the National Affairs Series: Humor in America.