Clambake: A History and Celebration of an American Tradition (Publications of the American Folklore Society, New Series)

An appreciative examination of the New England clambake, Neustadt divides her study into three parts: historical (social, economic, political, regional, and cultural) influences on the clambake; a close focus on the Allen's Neck clambake as a cultural phenomena in its own right; and a critical examination of the central elements of the clambaking tradition―food, ritual, and festival. The author views the clambake as a unique American folk tradition with interesting connections and rich resonances with other aspects of American culture and history. Frontmatter Acknowledgments (page ix) Introduction (page 3) Prologue: The Bake (page 10) Section One. The New England Clambake: A History (page 15) I. Early Evidence (page 17) 2. The Politics of Feasting (page 29) 3. Leisure and Industry (page 49) Section Two. The Allen's Neck Bake: An Ethnography (page 71) 4. A Portrait of Allen's Neck (page 73) 5. One Hundred Years of Clambaking (page 89) 6. How They Do It at Allen's Neck (page 103) Section Three. Clambakes and Meaning (page 133) 7. Food, Ritual, and Festivity (page 137) 8. Concluding Thoughts: Clam Juice and Melted Butter (page 161) Notes (page 189) References (page 209) Index (page 221) Prologue: The Bake -- Sect. 1. The New England Clambake: A History. 1. Early Evidence. 2. The Politics Of Feasting. 3. Leisure And Industry -- Sect. 2. The Allen's Neck Bake: An Ethnography. 4. A Portrait Of Allen's Neck. 5. One Hundred Years Of Clambaking. 6. How They Do It At Allen's Neck -- Sect. 3. Clambakes And Meaning. 7. Food, Ritual, And Festivity. 8. Concluding Thoughts: Clam Juice And Melted Butter. Kathy Neustadt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 209-219) And Index. Both a loving celebration of an annual community event, the century-old Allen's neck clambake, and an insightful examination of how public rituals like it help people define who they are.