Encyclopedia of Urban Legends
Curious, Useful, Edifying, Inspiring:
The Reference Books of McCabe Library
Staff Pick for the Week of February 11, 2008
Encyclopedia of Urban Legends
Call Number: REF GR105.34 .B78 2001
Recommended by: Anne Garrison, Humanities Librarian
We've read them all online or told them to our friends: urban legends about alligators in the sewers and livers stolen from sleeping bodies; unbelievable stories that nonetheless are great fun to relate. Stories like these have circulated throughout society for decades, and the Encyclopedia of Urban Legends provides a compulsively readable introduction to the scholarly side of urban legend studies. The author, a very well-respected folklorist and urban legend scholar, includes in his tome cross references, plot summaries, and variations of an astonishing number of urban legends. Although the focus is on American legends, there is good coverage of international tales. So browse a bit and read about the 1950's legend "spiders in the hairdo" and how it connects to both a medieval prototype and a Gary Larson cartoon of the 90's. Or sink your teeth into the very chilling "licking hand" legend, and learn its connection to the "aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light" stories that caused you such nightmares in junior high.
