This book discusses the origin and dispersion of the Aryans, the mythopoeic world view of early man, the animistic philosophy of savages, and the survivals of primitive belief among peasants, which enlivened the folklore controversies.

This book discusses the origin and dispersion of the Aryans, the mythopoeic world view of early man, the animistic philosophy of savages, and the survivals of primitive belief among peasants, which enlivened the folklore controversies.

This book describes how the theory and pursuit of folklore evolved in England and were transported throughout the British Isles, the British Empire, and the world at large. It shows the intimate bonds between the culture of the folk and the history of England.

This set re-issues classic works on folklore by Richard M. Dorson which trace the historical development of the idea of folklore from the Sixteenth Century to the First World War. The set also brings together the theoretical writings from folklorists.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This set reissues two classic works on folklore by Richard M. Dorson which were originally published in 1968. The word "Folklore" was coined in 1846 by an English antiquary, William John Thoms, although Professor Dorson's study shows that the history of the folklore movement had its origins in an earlier period. Men and women in many fields, especially in Victorian times, succumbed to the fascination of folklore. The idea of folklore was then carried to the four corners of the British Empire by colonial administrators, missionaries, military officers, and throughout Europe by English travellers. The text shows how the influence of folklore also extended into literature, history, classics, archaeology, philology, physical research, legal and medical antiquities, Scandinavian, Germanic and Celtic studies, and the history of religions. The work traces the historical development of the idea of folklore, beginning in the emergence of English and national history with Camden in the 16th century and reaching its climax with the "Great Term" of Andrew Lang and his co-workers from the 1870s to the World War I.

All the selections in Richard M. Dorson's "Folktales Told around the World" were recorded by expert collectors, and the majority of them are published here for the first time. The tales presented are told in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania. Unlike other collections derived in large part from literary texts, this volume meets the criteria of professional folklorists in assembling only authentic examples of folktales as they were orally told. Background information, notes on the narrators, and scholarly commentaries are provided to establish the folkloric character of the tales.

This book is a landmark in folklore studies in the United States. It is a virtual cornucopia of riches, and features the work of sixty scholars and practitioners, representing a multitude of approaches to the discipline.

This anthology of regional folklore displays the abundance, humor, and continuing vigor of the American oral tradition. The collection explores rich and distinctive lore of Maine Down-Easters, Pennsylvania Dutchmen, Southern mountaineers, Louisiana Cajuns, Illinois Egyptians, Southwest Mexicans, and Utah Mormons.
Their tales, songs, riddles, proverbs, games, superstitions, and customs provide a wealth of living folklore presented here as it was recorded in the field. And this unvarnished folklore fact--retains the spicy flavor of authentic narrative, told in the vernacular of the skillful folk storyteller.

"This introduction to the study of folklore and folklife contains an inspiring and spirited mixture of essays, theoretical contributions, practical instructions, and pure encyclopedia articles. It is a very well put together book, written by eighteen researchers who have something to say. One can see here that it is competent educators who have come forward and are narrating. . . . All in all it is a very use-oriented handbook with attractive typography and layout."--Iorn Pio, "Journal of American Folklore"

Here, grounded firmly in American history, is a skilled folklorist's survey of the entire field of America's folklore--from colonization to mass culture.
Tracing the forms and content of American folklore, Mr. Dorson reveals the richness, pathos, and humor of genuine folklore, which he distinguishes from the fakelore of popularizers and chauvinists. At the same time, however, he shows what the creation of spurious folklore (the Paul Bunyan legends, for instance) discloses about our national character. Based upon authentic field collections and research, the examples cited include folkways, jests, boasts, tall tales, ballads, folk and legendary heroes.
His volume enlarges our understanding of the American past and present through an empirical survey of the extant folk traditions and it also provides us with the means for appreciating what is valuable in these folk traditions.--Virginia Quarterly Review