The Penguin Dictionary of American Folklore will appeal to a vast range of readers in addition to folklorists. Here is a stimulating companion and authoritative resource for students of American literature, history, and cultural studies--from adolescents to centenarians--and for anyone lured by the highways and byways of our country's traditions. Entries range from brief definitions to essays (with suggested further readings) on such topics as folklore heroes (real and mythical); music; rural tales of weather and vampires; modern urban legends; and much, much more. This is a comprehensive, absorbing reference of a kind never before available.