Wow! eBook
Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween Reprint Edition
Author(s): Lisa Morton (Author)
- Publisher: Reaktion Books
- Publication Date: September 15, 2013
- Edition: Reprint
- Language: English
- Print length: 232 pages
- ISBN-10: 1780231873
- ISBN-13: 9781780231877
Book Description
In
Trick or Treat, Halloween aficionado Lisa Morton provides a thorough history of this spooky day. She begins by looking at how holidays like the Celtic Samhain, a Gaelic harvest festival, have blended with the British Guy Fawkes Day and the Catholic All Souls’ Day to produce the modern Halloween, and she explains how the holiday was reborn in America, where costumes and trick-or-treat rituals have become new customs. Morton takes into account the influence of related but independent holidays, especially the Mexican Day of the Dead, as well as the explosion in popularity of haunted attractions and the impact of such events as 9/11 and the economic recession on the celebration today. Trick or Treat also examines the effect Halloween has had on popular culture through the literary works of Washington Irving and Ray Bradbury, films like Halloween and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Simpsons.
Considering the holiday in the context of its worldwide popularity for the first time, this book will be a treat for any Halloween lover.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“If you want to know anything at all about the subject, you ought to find it in
Trick or Treat. . . . Morton’s interesting account of Hallowe’en is at its best when it comes up to date and there are many entertaining illustrations.” — Susan Hill ― Times“Full of historical nuggets and strange folklore, Lisa Morton’s
Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween Reprint Edition is the perfect bible for all devoted disciples of the holiday.” ― Michael Dougherty, Writer & Director, “Trick ‘r Treat”“With
Trick or Treat Lisa Morton gives us a charming, creepy, insightful and thoroughly fascinating history of Halloween. It’s a delicious blend of cultural history and pop-culture savvy that is a true delight to read!” ― Jonathan Maberry, author of “Flesh and Bone” and “Assassin’s Code”“This is an excellent survey of the Halloween scene, informative and accessible, far more treat than trick.” ―
Kim Newman, author of “Nightmare Movies” and “Anno Dracula”“In a modern world, increasingly filled with pop culture fads and gimmicks, Lisa Morton reveals much of the underbelly history and unknown facts regarding the biggest pop culture event in history—Halloween. Her sheer delight and well-researched enthusiasm in tackling many of the unrecognized aspects of this monstrous topic makes one wonder what we don’t know about everything else that should be as commonplace to our psyche as a bag of candy.” ―
Del Howison, editor of “Dark Delicacies” and “Book of Lists: Horror”“[Morton] playfully sets the record straight on the origins of Halloween. . . . This book is an excellent example of the scholarship on holidays as a means of accessing many facets of history. Highly recommended.” ―
Choice“From an authority on Hallowe’en lore comes all you need to know about this ‘misunderstood’ festival. . . . Well written and illustrated, informative and entertaining.”
―
“Morton’s excellent history explores Halloween’s origins and traditions as well as its place in popular culture.” — PD Smith ―
Guardian“Numerous black and white illustrations, references, bibliography, and an index supplement Morton’s engaging and solidly researched text.
Trick or Treat documents lots of historical tricks and is a wonderful treat for anyone looking beyond the commercial surface of Halloween.” — Colin Steele ― Canberra Times
