Traces the history, customs and hardships faced by British travelling showmen and -women.


Few other trades bring together such a variety of skills and talents as showmanship. In Merrymaking and Frolic, Nicholas Fogg argues that this oft-misunderstood community is a cultural group, not an ethnic one. Although frequently confused with gypsies and other travellers, they are bonded by a way of life which is quite unique.

Many showmen have been on the road for generations, but the fairs themselves form a tradition even more ancient. Some date from the Middle Ages and are incorporated into Borough Charters; St. Giles Church in Oxford was consecrated in 1200 and its fair dates from its inception. The status of 'statute fairs', such as the 17 West Midland 'Mop' fairs, is also guaranteed by Act of Parliament.

Annual fairs are the highlight of the year for many communities and, as one of the most popular forms of mass entertainment, they merit scholarly attention. If world-changing technologies and art forms like film have emerged from fairs, what further developments might they bring in future?