Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween

David J. Skal

Bloomsbury USA, Oct 1, 2003 - History - 224 pages

Using a mix of personal anecdotes and perceptive social analysis, acclaimed cultural critic David J. Skal examines the amazing phenomenon of Halloween, exploring its dark Celtic history and illuminating why it has evolved-in the course of a few short generations-from a quaint, small-scale celebration into the largest seasonal marketing event outside of Christmas.

About the author

David J. Skal is the author of Hollywood Gothic, The Monster Show, V Is for Vampire, Screams of Reason, and, with Elias Savada, Dark Carnival. With Nina Auerbach, he is the co-editor of the Norton Critical Edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula. A longtime New Yorker, he now lives in Los Angeles.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural History of Halloween
• Author: David J. Skal
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, 2003
• ISBN: 1582343055, 9781582343051
• Length: 224 pages
• Subjects: History / General