A virtual cornucopia of riches, Handbook of American Folklore features the work of sixty scholars and practitioners, representing a multitude of approaches to the discipline. About half of the contributions deal with local American materials, exploring such topics as family folklore, American cultural myths, Mormon lore, folk healers, and folk performers. It is a landmark in folkore studies in the United States and a labor of love of the late Richard M. Dorson, who carefully organized it and wrote introductory essays for each secion.