Acclaimed cultural critic David J. Skal explores one of America's most perplexingly popular holidays in this original mix of personal anecdotes and social analysis. Skal traces Halloween's evolution from its dark Celtic history and quaint, small-scale celebrations to its emergence as mammoth seasonal marketing event.
Skal takes readers on a
cross-country survey that covers remarkably divergent perspectives, from
the merchants who welcome a money-making opportunity that's second only
to Christmas to fundamentalists who decry Halloween a form of blasphemy
and practicing witches who embrace it as a holy day. He also profiles
individuals who revel in this once-a-year occasion to participate in
elaborate fantasies. Their narratives, combined with the author's
cultural analysis, offer a revealing look at an intriguing aspect of our
national psyche.
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