Richard M. Dorson – författare

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

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

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 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 theoretical writings from some of the most influential folklorists. The following titles are reprinted here:The British Folklorists 0-415-20476-3Here Dorson explores the early origins of the folklore movement which became prominent in the Victorian period, but which originated in the sixteenth century. He shows how the influence of folklore extended to literature, history, the classics, archaeology, philology, physical research and legal and medical antiquities.Peasant Customs and Savage Myths, Volume I: 0-415-20477-1 and Volume II: 0-415-20478-XThese two companion volumes bring together the theoretical writings of some of the most brilliant folklorists, including Andrew Lang, Sidney Hartland, George Laurence Gomme, Alfred Nutt and Joseph Jacobs. The subjects they discuss range from the origin and dispersion of the Aryans to the animistic philosophy of 'savages' and the survivals of primitive beliefs among peasants.

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 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 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.

No detailed description available for "Folklore and traditional history".