All Silver and No Brass: An Irish Christmas Mumming

by Henry Glassie

All Silver and No Brass An Irish Christmas Mumming Henry Glassie "An excellent book, not only a perceptive study of mumming in Ireland but also an excellent introduction to folklore and what folklorists do. . . . This book is most impressive and can be recommended for any level of adult audience."--"Choice" "A beautifully written exploration of a vanishing holiday ritual that can be traced back to the dramas of the sixteenth century and beyond." --"Philadelphia Inquirer" "An excellent book recommended both to the student of literature and the general reader interested in folklore."--"Irish Echo" "A magnificently comprehensive book. . . . Whether you are a mumming or Wran Boy enthusiast or not, this beautifully produced book will take you into a world of suspended reality, gone, but not quite."--"Books Ireland" "Glassie has captured the authentic tang of the Ulster countryman's speech, laconic with surprising shots of hyperbole. . . . A beautifully produced book."--"Irish Independent" For the general reader as for the folklorist, this is a fascinating, vivid, and sensitive account that, through its portraits of individuals and of a community, offers a unique insight into a folk custom of the Christmas season. Henry Glassie is College Professor of Folklore at Indiana University. He is the author of "Art and Life in Bangladesh," "Irish Folktales," "The Spirit of Folk Art," and "Pattern in the Material Folk Culture of the Eastern United States," which is also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press. 1976 224 pages 6 x 9 1/4 27 illus. ISBN 978-0-8122-1139-9 Paper $24.95s 16.50 World Rights Anthropology, Cultural Studies

Genres: Folklore, History, Anthropology, Ireland, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1975

Reviews

[Rayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In elegant, scholarly but tender style, Glassie details the tradition of Christmastime mumming as practiced in Fermanagh in the early middle of the 20th century. He writes with great affection and respect about the people who were his informants and became his friends. He locates mumming in the life of the immediate community, and also within Irish culture in general. An educational and enjoyable read.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent oral history/ethnography of Christmas mumming in Northern Ireland. Glassie’s writing is intelligent and informed, which is to be expected. What is not expected is the beauty of his prose. It’s outstanding.

[Hunter Dux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glassie is as much of a wordsmith as the people of Ballymenone.

[Jeffrey Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in the 1970's, All Silver and No Brass is a poorly organized field study of Mummers Plays. These folk dramas, most common to the British Isles, are a dying tradition (though they have seen a slight revival).

I quickly grew tired of the topic and kept finding myself asking, "So what? Why should I care about these folk traditions?" I had not heard of mummers plays before and find them fascinating--in spite of Glassie. His commentary removed the charm from a an usually very enchanting part of the world. These plays, and the people from whom they derive, deserve a more insightful and bewitching treatment.

I want my time back. At least I am 200 pages less ignorant of folk traditions surrounding the Emerald Isle.

[Talulla Shaughnessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So gentle and beautiful and nuanced and the end had me weeping in my freshman dorm. Very carefully considered portrayal of a time place and variety of people and the end made me cry, glassie is very, very good at what he does. I love folkloristics!!

[Stableboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for people interested in folklore but afraid to read anthropological toned boring folklore book. Discusses history of Irish mumming and theories of folklore that finally make some sense.

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Folklorist Henry Glassie is a great "go to" guy for context. If you want some background context on Philadelphia's mummers, you could do a whole lot worse than this book.