A collection of 20 essays which seek to reveal the evolving theoretical underpinnings of folkloristics from its 19th-century origins to its academic coming-of-age in the 20th century. Each piece is prefaced by editorial introductions placing them in a historical and intellectual context.



International folkloristics is a worldwide discipline in which scholars study various forms of folklore ranging from myth, folktale, and legend to custom and belief. Twenty classic essays, beginning with a piece by Jacob Grimm, reveal the evolving theoretical underpinnings of folkloristics from its nineteenth century origins to its academic coming-of-age in the twentieth century. Each piece is prefaced by extensive editorial introductions placing them in a historical and intellectual context. The twenty essays presented here, including several never published previously in English, will be required reading for any serious student of folklore.