An Anthology of American Folktales and Legends

This comprehensive collection brings together the sprawling tapestry of American oral tradition, offering an impressive variety of narratives from Appalachian Jack tales and African American folklore to supernatural legends and modern urban myths. The anthology is thoughtfully structured into three main sections, beginning with foundational Native American and Hawaiian narratives, creating a clear historical and cultural throughline. Readers will encounter everything from classic tall tales and riddles to lesser-known stories of women and criminal legends, providing a truly panoramic view of the nation's storytelling heritage. This is not a sanitized, children's version of folklore but a serious, representative gathering of the stories that have shaped American cultural identity.

What makes this volume particularly valuable is its scholarly yet accessible approach, making it equally useful for folklore students and general readers curious about the roots of American storytelling. The diversity of sources and tale types ensures that every reader will discover something new, whether it's a chilling ghost story, a clever trickster tale, or a regional legend that reveals local values and fears. For anyone seeking to understand the collective imagination of America—from its ancient indigenous roots to its contemporary urban legends—this anthology serves as both an essential reference and a endlessly fascinating reading experience. It captures the living, breathing nature of folklore as it evolves across communities and generations.