De la peste con humor...

Abstract

Not infrequently, art has accounted for natural disasters and human misfortunes. Plague is one of the most painful realities that men have always faced and is therefore one of the obligated themes of literature since ancient times. Among the French authors of the twentieth century is Marcel Pagnol's original chronicle on the bubonic plague of Marseille of 1720, presented with characteristics of legend, heroic deeds and humour : " Les pestiférés" (1977). It surprises by the wit that the story colours horror and disguises misfortune by making calamity an adventure full of acumen and fun. The intention of this article is to disseminate a little-known text of the French academic and highlight the peculiar approach with which he deals with adversity, recalling that through humour literature is able to mitigate the most heinous circumstances.