Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead Papeback - - 1st Edition
by Stanley Brandes
- New
Description
Standard delivery: 9 to 14 days
Details
- Title Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead
- Author Stanley Brandes
- Binding Papeback
- Edition number 1st
- Edition 1
- Condition New
- Pages 240
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Blackwell Publishing , Oxford, UK
- Date pp. 232 Index
- Features Bibliography, Index
- Bookseller's Inventory # 61073036
- ISBN 9781405152488 / 1405152486
- Weight 1.11 lbs (0.50 kg)
- Dimensions 9.68 x 6.84 x 0.43 in (24.59 x 17.37 x 1.09 cm)
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Themes
- Cultural Region: Mexican
- Topical: Death/Dying
- Library of Congress subjects Mexico - Social life and customs, All Souls' Day - Mexico
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2006004999
- Dewey Decimal Code 394.266
About Cold Books New York, United States
From the rear cover
"Erudite and charming, Brandes' book provides a welcome antidote to previous studies of Day of the Dead 'morbidity, ' segueing seamlessly from the Mexican festivities to Mexican-Americans in California. The book is destined to become a classic in Hispanic studies." --David D. Gilmore, SUNY, Stony Brook
"This is a marvelous book. Brandes, a perceptive analyst and delightful writer, mines his years of fieldwork to offer both the telling ethnographic episode and the revealing photograph. Skulls to the Living . . . not only illuminates the fascinating rituals of the Day of the Dead, but offers rich insight into changing and kaleidoscopic Mexican culture as well." --David I. Kertzer, Brown University
EACH OCTOBER, as the Day of the Dead draws near, Mexican markets overflow with decorated breads, fanciful paper cutouts, and whimsical toy skulls and skeletons. To honor deceased relatives, Mexicans decorate graves and erect home altars. Drawing on a rich array of historical and ethnographic evidence, this volume reveals the origin and changing character of this celebrated holiday. It explores the emergence of the Day of the Dead as a symbol of Mexican and Mexican-American national identity. Skulls to the Living, Bread to the Dead poses a serious challenge to the widespread stereotype of the morbid Mexican, unafraid of death, and obsessed with dying. In fact, the Day of the Dead, as shown here, is a powerful affirmation of life and creativity. Beautifully illustrated, this book is essential for anyone interested in Mexican culture, art, and folklore as well as contemporary globalization and identity formation.