The Grateful Dead Tales from Around the World

In 1908, Gordon Hall Gerould wrote a monograph-"The Grateful Dead: The History of a Folk Story"-in which he discussed over 100 variants of the tale, a remarkable and diverse piece of scholarship that has received higher recognition in recent years. The full text of Gerould's work is provided in this volume.

This collection also includes over 45 folktales and ballads with Grateful Dead motifs.

In addition, the full text of four English plays that use the motif are provided, including: "The Old Wives' Tale" by George Peele "The Fatal Dowry" by Nathan Field & Philip Massinger "The Fair Penitent" by Nicholas Rowe "The Insolvent: or Filial Piety, A Tragedy" by Aaron Hill

Other pieces of scholarship and miscellanea are offered, too, including an English translation of "The History of Oliver and Arthur," a fifteenth century French romance.

When combined in one convenient volume, these materials provide a fascinating overview of an often neglected folktale type for both the formal scholar and armchair enthusiast.