{"product_id":"a-season-of-madness-fools-monsters-and-marvels-of-the-old-world-carnival-9781627311564","title":"A Season of Madness: Fools, Monsters, and Marvels of the Old-World Carnival","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.\"\u003cem\u003e- William Blake\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A Season of Madness\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e is a fantastic carnival of a book.\u003cbr\u003eEqual parts irreverent and erudite, it lovingly captures the depth, complexity, \u003cbr\u003eand subversive nature of the carnival, from its ancient roots to modern\u003cbr\u003eexpression. Gorgeously illustrated, intellectually hefty, and also fun, it\u003cbr\u003eis a seductive introduction to the material cultures, legends, and history of\u003cbr\u003ethis perennially fascinating and slippery subject.\"--Joanna Ebenstein, Founder and Creative Director of Morbid\u003cbr\u003eAnatomy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAl Ridenour, creator and host of the popular podcast Bone\u003cbr\u003eand Sickle and author of \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Krampus and the Old, Dark\u003cbr\u003eChristmas\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e extends his study of Winter folk celebrations to the Spring, \u003cbr\u003eexploring the Old-World Carnival in\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e A Season of Madness\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e.Sumptuously illustrated with over one hundred historical and\u003cbr\u003emodern images, Ridenour ushers readers into cultural hinterlands where\u003cbr\u003ecelebrations still echo the cruel realities of the old, agricultural world, and\u003cbr\u003emedieval Christianity intertwines with pagan practice.From ancient Rome to modern Bulgaria, readers\u003cbr\u003eencounter a holiday at once beautiful, strange, and savage. Spring is welcomed\u003cbr\u003eby clowns waving inflated pig bladders. Stalking sheepskin monsters brandish\u003cbr\u003eclubs bristling with hedgehog spines, and plows are dragged over cobblestone\u003cbr\u003estreets by celebrants wearing masks painted with cow's blood. Folk horror fans\u003cbr\u003etake heart as the Old World welcomes Spring! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRidenour's first book, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eKrampus and the Old, Dark\u003cbr\u003eChristmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e(2018) is\u003cbr\u003econsidered by critics the definitive authority on pagan winter celebrations.\u003cbr\u003eAside from his books and podcast, Ridenour is a sought-after expert and\u003cbr\u003electurer.\u003cbr\u003e\"Sumptuously illustrated and written with clarity, eloquence, \u003cbr\u003eand wry humor, A Season of Madness is one of those rare books that\u003cbr\u003ecan pass muster as an academic study yet also provide a good read. Al\u003cbr\u003eRidenour's meticulous research exposes the subtleties and outrageous quirks of\u003cbr\u003ea topic you didn't know you wanted to learn about until you picked up his book.\u003cbr\u003eUnder his direction, the madness once again reigns, as the neglected history of\u003cbr\u003eEuropean Carnival is placed center stage before the reader, in all its seedy, \u003cbr\u003ewild, and triumphant glory.\" --Dr. Paul Koudounaris, author and photographer\u003cbr\u003eof: \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e Faithful unto Death\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eHeavenly Bodies\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, and numerous other\u003cbr\u003eexquisitely beautiful books about death.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Al Ridenour\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Feral House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/06\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.98lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.90h x 7.00w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781627311564","brand":"Feral House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43945465086089,"sku":"9781627311564","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_4cc1df2a-699b-41e8-881f-959e79172498.jpg?v=1745913609","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/a-season-of-madness-fools-monsters-and-marvels-of-the-old-world-carnival-9781627311564","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}