comic

The article discusses the role of the comic in the prewar historic drama on the example of Prince Napoleon by V. Shkvarkin and Long Long Ago by A. Gladkov. Shkvarkin wrote a satirical work exposing a potential adversary, and Gladkov wrote a heroic comedy glorifying the people’s valor. Historical comedies on the eve of the war instilled optimism in the audience and aroused a sense of patriotism.

The article deals with the interaction of humourous and frenetic motives in Fantomas novel cycle by Pierre Souvestre and Marcel Allain (1911–1913). It shows how the book reflects, on the one hand, a certain predilection of the ‘belle époque’ for a demonstration of repulsive aspects of death and, on the other, the influence of Grand Guignol theatre aesthetics. Fantomas novels are thus juxtaposed with Gaston Leroux’s prose.