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A review by thenerdybookwitch
The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil by Al Ridenour
1.25
CW: Mentions of Anti-Black Racism
I’d say the first half of the book was very informative. However, there are problems I have with it being the overuse of the S slur and a disregard of the Anti-Black history associated with Krampus that the author goes to a great length in an early chapter to disprove of. This is wrong on many levels, there is plenty of artwork that exists in the 19th century and descriptions of Krampus that were very racist particularly in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras. As well as some performers that were in Blackface. In recent years, Krampus performers and portrayals have been way better without a trace of Anti-Black Racism and Racist Stereotyping though it is something that unfortunately comes back around now and again. I think it was very disrespectful of the author to not only ignore the Anti-Black history but to try and say it never happened at all when it did. Just an FYI if you planned to read the book.
End CW
Other critiques I have is that there is a point where the author repeats nearly everything from one chapter in another chapter. Almost word for word with maybe a little bit switched around. The author also doesn’t have any sort of Further Reading or Sources page. The author makes references to information but most of the sources are just “someone told me this and that” and “someone provided these pictures” without much pointing to where anyone can find all this. Some information does line up with other things I read before but for anyone reading this as their first Krampus book there is no way you’d know where else to look because the author provides barely anything else than hearsay and pics with random sources taken from one place.
Would I recommend this book? I mean, I’m sure there is something better out there but Google is also free and most of this you can find on there. If I do find a good book on the history of Krampus, I will absolutely update this showing the title on the bottom.
This is probably the first book review where I just sound the most disappointed in a book in a long time but it’s because I am! Thank you for reading if you got this far 😂😂
I’d say the first half of the book was very informative. However, there are problems I have with it being the overuse of the S slur and a disregard of the Anti-Black history associated with Krampus that the author goes to a great length in an early chapter to disprove of. This is wrong on many levels, there is plenty of artwork that exists in the 19th century and descriptions of Krampus that were very racist particularly in the Victorian and Edwardian Eras. As well as some performers that were in Blackface. In recent years, Krampus performers and portrayals have been way better without a trace of Anti-Black Racism and Racist Stereotyping though it is something that unfortunately comes back around now and again. I think it was very disrespectful of the author to not only ignore the Anti-Black history but to try and say it never happened at all when it did. Just an FYI if you planned to read the book.
End CW
Other critiques I have is that there is a point where the author repeats nearly everything from one chapter in another chapter. Almost word for word with maybe a little bit switched around. The author also doesn’t have any sort of Further Reading or Sources page. The author makes references to information but most of the sources are just “someone told me this and that” and “someone provided these pictures” without much pointing to where anyone can find all this. Some information does line up with other things I read before but for anyone reading this as their first Krampus book there is no way you’d know where else to look because the author provides barely anything else than hearsay and pics with random sources taken from one place.
Would I recommend this book? I mean, I’m sure there is something better out there but Google is also free and most of this you can find on there. If I do find a good book on the history of Krampus, I will absolutely update this showing the title on the bottom.
This is probably the first book review where I just sound the most disappointed in a book in a long time but it’s because I am! Thank you for reading if you got this far 😂😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Blood, and Alcohol