Folklore

the long version

"From anecdotes, boasts, and children's stories to urban tall tales, vampires, and Xerox-lore, this superb scholarly dictionary illuminates the historical and contemporary form, figures, and fields of folklore. In over 240 in-depth articles by leading scholars, basic cultural concepts, academic theories and methodologies, supernatural creatures and stereotypical characters are discussed with regard to the field of folklore. This cross-cultural study emcompasses literary and oral traditions as well as music, art, architecture, foodways, and other customs."--"Outstanding Reference Sources : the 1999 Selection of New Titles", American Libraries, May 1999. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, USA, ALA.