American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore

Almost 500 short articles cover American folklore, from pre-Colonial indigenous tales to present-day legends (conspiracies, online hoaxes, urban myths). The formal chronology begins in 1531, but Native American heroes and myths (with specific tribal attribution) are well represented. More than 150 contributors, from students to professors, including Fee (English, Gettysburg Coll.) and Webb (history, Huntington Univ.), produced the entries. The set contains primary documents, a further reading section with websites, black-and-white photographs with informative captions, and pithy text boxes that significantly expand the work's scope. Those attempting to look up subjects such as "women in folklore" or "tricksters" may find the index more useful than the "Guide to Related Topics." An accessible introduction argues effectively for the truths behind myths. Although some entries (e.g., Nostradamus, Atlantis) are perhaps not very American and some topics will be familiar, readers will find new material. Naturally there are omissions (e.g., L. Frank Baum and Oz; Uncle Tom's Cabin; Joe Hill; Barbara Fritchie), and there are errors (Britain offered no bounty for settlers' scalps). But coverage is diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. Numerous haunted house and local monster entries become redundant in the aggregate, and many articles are more descriptive (even credulous) than analytical: e.g., the Salem witch trials entry flatly asserts that Tituba taught witchcraft and ignores the role of her race. Many other entries, however, are critical and incisive, dissecting underlying values. Minor issues are outweighed by the gathering of varied strands of folklore and the inclusion of multiple narratives, historical figures (admirable and criminal), events, sites (e.g., Ellis Island), and performative and other traditions.