Puppetry: A World History

by Eileen Blumenthal

An exploration of the cultural diversity and personalities of puppets throughout history examines the characterizations of numerous puppeteers as well as the often sophisticated technology that has gone into their creations, in a lavishly illustrated volume complemented by lively and informative text. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: History, Art, Theatre, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2005

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puppets have existed in one form or another in and for nearly every culture throughout human history (and that they are most definitely not simply toys and entertainment for children and in fact never have been). Thus with her 2005 Puppets: A World History (which I found and enjoyed on Open Library) Eileen Blumenthal all-encompassingly, textually academically but at the same time delightfully approachably and readably meticulously traces the history of puppetry from the early Stone Age to today (well, let us say until 2005, until the publication date of Puppets: A World History), with Puppets: A World History contents and thematics wise being (in my opinion) suitable and appropriate for anyone with an interest in puppetry and its history from about the age of twelve or so onward, and that readers definitely do not require a university education to read, to understand and to enjoy Puppets: A World History. But I will leave the in my opinion necessary caveat that if Puppets: A World History is to be read or shared with younger readers, well, Blumenthal does show and tell factually (and with not all that much author analysis) how puppetry, how entertainment featuring marionette type entities also sometimes and actually even pretty often has incorporated and still does today incorporate themes of sexuality, violence, political satire, propaganda etc., that throughout human history, there have equally been quite a goodly number of racially problematic marionettes (and that puppet theatre in and of itself has therefore also been used to promote and also to normalise and enable ethnic intolerance, and rather globally so in fact, but that the positives of puppetry far outweigh the negatives, that how puppet theatre both entertains and also often teaches and is used for social criticism is marvellous, is delightful).

Now all throughout Puppets: A World History Eileen Blumenthal is basically providing a comprehensive but not overly intensive overview of the history and techniques of puppetry, examining the unique nature and abilities of puppets in their various forms and illustrating the countless roles they (and their creators, the puppeteers) have played in societies across the globe for thousands and thousands of years, providing readers with an intriguing and enlightening portrait (both verbally and visually) of this intricate world of constructed actors (the marionettes, the puppets) and the eclectic and often eccentric artists who create them. And with Blumenthal showcasing pretty much everything puppet themed and related (prehistoric carved puppets, the shadow puppets of Java, the romantically challenged Miss Piggy, African carved-wood actors with exaggerated genitalia, maniac Mr. Punch, silly Kasperle and these being just a select few examples), with Puppets: A World History, both Eileen Blumenthal's text and equally so the vast plethora of accompanying illustrations and photographs, this shows and tells how puppets are incredibly diverse and also reflect the cultures, environments as well as the individual and diverse personalities of their creators (and of humanity in general, regarding everything from religion to politics), and indeed, that the combination of words and illustrations for Puppets: A World History accompanied by the absolutely excellent and nicely organised bibliography Blumenthal provides, yes, yes, yes, for me (and especially for adult me), Puppets: A World History rates as solidly and gloriously five stars (and with my only mild annoyance being that Puppets: A World History is not in print and that used copies online are not only rare but also really expensive).

[Autoclette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavishly and beautifully illustrated, the world history of puppetry layed out thematically.

[Nanaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough
Well researched
Unique

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really wonderful visual book. It would have been very easy for a book like this to become terribly dry and boring. The color pictures were wonderful and very helpful to somebody with exactly zero background like me.
I think the order / method the author used to present the material was also helpful. Trying to cross reference all the different types of puppets and their corresponding cultures could have become very confusing and tedious. The author did a wonderful job with this. This volume would make a lovely coffee table book for the visuals, but is so much more than just a show piece. Well done.

[H. Givens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been obsessed with puppets for about two months, after visiting the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. This book was perfect as a follow-up, or if you don't live in the area. More detail, history, and theoretical discussion, a notch more in-depth since you can sit and read it at your leisure. The images can't replace seeing real puppets in a museum, but there are plenty of them to give examples and highlight a wide range of puppetry styles around the world. Super interesting and accessible.

[Dewisyahputri]

Puppetry

[kev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulled on my heart-strings.

[Sandra Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished. Excellent. Great photographs.

[Slurry222 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book; beautiful, informative and stimulating.

[Kathy Duffy]

covers everything from jointed dolls, to shadow, hand, rod, and modern puppetry. It covers from Egyptian times up through the turn into this century. Great reference resource