One of the seminal works of 20th-century scholarship, Peter Burke's book remains relevant today. Notable for the breadth of examples from all parts of Europe and for Burke's engaging and direct writing style, the volume presents an overview of the history of the study of popular culture, its various forms and sources, and many examples of particular stories and themes, with separate sections devoted to Carnival, Lent, and popular culture and social change. The 3rd edition, published to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the 1st edition (of 1978), features a lengthy introduction by Burke detailing the developments in the field. Burke (Emmanuel College, Cambridge, the UK) has also revised the text and updated all the notes and bibliography. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)