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Irish Christmas mumming, the subject of this carefully researched andbeautifully written book, is approached in Part I through the recollections of fourold people of the hamlet of Ballymenone who recall the mumming from their youth. InPart II, the author examines the form and function of the mummers' play, showingthat -- contrary to the theories of some folklorists -- it is not a truncatedfragment of a much larger whole but a complete "presentational" statement. He showshow the mummers' play functioned as a means of drawing the community closer togetherand as an expression of dangers and hopes in the potentially bitter Ulstersituation. Glassie's study treats fully the social and culturalcontext of the mummers' play. It is a superb study, of obvious value to folklorists, but also of interest to literary critics, literary historians, anthropologists, andothers.