Folklore: Book Suggestions.

Subject: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: GUEST
Date: 31 May 12 - 08:07 AM

I'd love a book that deals with the late 19th century/early 20th. That deals with things like riverboats, vaudvile, medicine shows, circuses, jim crow, gamblers, balls, folk, blues, railroads, watch & chain, country priests. I mean the America thats the days of gold, Biblical era where mythical heros and giants walked the earth with Po' Lazuras trapped between two mountains and some woman by the river. "I held her hand on a cobblestone corner, etc" stuff. Do you know what I mean. A sort of history book that describes what happened then with some rationale as to why it happened and where it went.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 May 12 - 09:28 AM

American Folklore Society booklist

Subject: RE: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: GUEST,Devon
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 03:02 PM

Hello, if you find a book with this history, please let me know about it by posting here! The book you describe is exactly what I'm looking for.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 03:46 PM

> A sort of history book that describes what happened then with some rationale as to why it happened and where it went.

What you're looking for doesn't sound like any kind of "history" I've ever heard of. The America you describe never existed.

But you know that. A book that might fill you requirements is B. A. Botkin's "A Treasury of American Folklore" (1944). It's easy to get.

If that whets your appetite, check out the numerous sequels, like "A Treasury of Western Folklore," "A Treasury of Southern Folklore," "A Treasury of Railroad Folklore," "A Treasury of New England Folklore," "A Treasury of Mississippi Folklore," and "Sidewalks of America."

Each is a huge, colorful anthology, from the original sources, of folksy and pop-culture stories, anecdotes, songs, you name it.

Less imposing and more sentimental is Duncan Emrich's "Folklore on the American Land" (1974).

Subject: RE: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: GUEST,Devon
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 05:19 PM

Thanks for that ^ :-) I knew there had to be some books about the wild west, circuses, highwaymen, vaudeville, outlaws. That sorta thing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Book Suggestions.
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Jun 12 - 05:25 PM

Read up on Annie Oakley..very interesting.

Also Bat Masterson. Or is it Batt? He is a relative of mine but I don't know how. mg