This is a book of superior, indeed pristine scholarship that significantly advances our knowledge on a number of fronts, historical and theoretical. What is so artful about this particular work is the way it handles multiple, sometimes abstract theoretical issues (iconography, ritual theory, colonial history, mythology, postcolonial theory, sacrifice, censorship, poster art, prostitution, environmentalism, and diaspora and immigration studies) through ... Read morevery concrete historical details and, most important, a single, overarching historical narrative spanning some three to four centuries. This is a truly comprehensive book, and it will become the definitive study of the subject.
Jeffrey J. Kripal, Rice University, author of Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred McDermott's pioneering study is a scholarly achievement that is impressive, enlightening and enjoyable to read.
Chris J. Fuller Pacific Affairs McDermott's Revelry, Rivalry, and Longing is a wonderful book that thoroughly presents the development of three of the most important festivals in Bengal. Journal of Hindu Studies Show Less