This work includes the first printed Punch and Judy script which describes the humorous adventures that befall both him and his spouse, including Punch's final triumph over the devil. It was written by John Payne Collier and illustrated by George Cruikshank and was based on Giovanni Piccini's Punch show that had been performed in England in the early 1800s. Collier presents the history of Punch, whose original name was Pulcinello, from the date of his first appearance in Italy, about the year 1600, to the early 19th century.
- Introduction
- Chapter I. Origin Of Punch In Italy
- Chapter II. Origin And Progress Of Puppet-Plays In England
- Chapter III. Arrival Of Punch In England
- Chapter IV. Nature Of Punch's Performances
- Chapter V. The Moral Of Punch's Performances, &c.
- Chapter VI. On The Character Of Punch
- The Tragical Comedy, Or Comical Tragedy, Of Punch And Judy
- Preface
- Dramatis Personæ
- Act I
- Act II
- Act III
- Criticisms On Punch And Judy
- Criticisms On George Cruikshank's Illustrations To Punch And Judy
1st edition 1828, 141 pages; PDF 84 pages.
word count: 30988 which is equivalent to 123 standard pages of text
