This book provides readers with a detailed and accessible introduction to the genre of comedy. It chronicles the history of comedy from the ancients to the present day, addressing key chapters in Anglophone literary history, such as Shakespearean comedy, Restoration comedy, and Theatre of the Absurd. The book summarises key comic techniques (including slapstick, puns, and running gags) and the most important theoretical accounts of laughter. Moreover, current scholarly discussions revolving around awkwardness, cringe humour, and funny women are addressed in detail. Over the course of its 14 chapters, Comedy on Stage and Screen connects traditional comic tropes (like the fool or the marriage plot) to plenty of classic and up-to-date examples.