Trick or Treat
A History of Halloween
Distributed for Reaktion Books
229 pages
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20 color plates, 20 halftones
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5 1/2 x 8 1/2
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© 2012
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents

Contents
Introduction
1. Halloween: The Misunderstood Festival
2. Snap-apple Night and November Eve: Halloween in the British Isles
3. Trick or Treat in the New World
4. La Toussaint, Allerheiligen and Tutti i Santi: The Global Celebration
5. Dias de los Muertos
6. From Burns to Burton: Halloween and Popular Culture
References
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
1. Halloween: The Misunderstood Festival
2. Snap-apple Night and November Eve: Halloween in the British Isles
3. Trick or Treat in the New World
4. La Toussaint, Allerheiligen and Tutti i Santi: The Global Celebration
5. Dias de los Muertos
6. From Burns to Burton: Halloween and Popular Culture
References
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Review Quotes
Library Journal
“Trick or Treat covers the history of Halloween from its ancient Celtic roots to its stunning growth in global popularity in the 21st century. Morton is an accomplished horror short story writer, and her ability to draw readers in quickly and keep them turning the pages shines through in her nonfiction as well. Lavishly illustrated, this solidly researched and concise work is fun to read and a great choice for readers who want to know why we seek out the scary each October.”
Susan Hill | Times
“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.”
Choice
“[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.”
Fortean Times
“From an authority on Hallowe’en lore comes all you need to know about this ‘misunderstood’ festival. . . . Well written and illustrated, informative and entertaining.”
PD Smith | Guardian
"Morton’s excellent history explores Halloween’s origins and traditions as well as its place in popular culture."
Colin Steele | Canberra Times
"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."
Michael Dougherty, Writer & Director, "Trick 'r Treat"
“Full of historical nuggets and strange folklore, Lisa Morton’s Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween is the perfect bible for all devoted disciples of the holiday.”
Jonathan Maberry, author of "Flesh and Bone" and "Assassin’s Code"
“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!”
Kim Newman, author of "Nightmare Movies" and "Anno Dracula"
“This is an excellent survey of the Halloween scene, informative and accessible, far more treat than trick.”
Del Howison, editor of "Dark Delicacies" and "Book of Lists: Horror"
“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.”
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