Ruth Edna Kelley

The Book of Halloween Ruth Edna Kelley

The Book of Halloween is an excellent compilation of folklore, poems, and traditions compiled at the dawn of the 20th century by Ruth Edna Kelley. Speaking on Scottish, Welsh, English, American, and ancient pagan practices, it traces the timeline of this holiday from its pre-christian roots to the then-modern era. With a bit of witchcraft, some jack o'lanterns, will-o the wisps and some strange stories from Grimm, Gay's "Pastorals" and other works, it provides an excellent broad overview of the history and lore of Halloween.