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Title: More on ULs
Review: Those who have read Brunvand's other books, or various compilations of urban legends, will likely be most interested in this collection of articles and essays. Each of the 13 articles generally focuses on an individual legend, and Brunvand thoroughly researches the tales by tracking down numerous versions of the stories and positing how they may have originated. The style is scholarly, but accessible and interesting. His writing is a good introduction to more advanced ways of studying folklore, and the analysis and commentary adds to our understanding of how these stories develop and why they have become part of various communities' cultures. Compilations of ULs do document good stories, but just reading lots of the same old ULs can become a bit boring after a while. This book shows that there are interesting histories to the tales and that understanding these histories and cultural contexts enrich our understanding of folklore in contemporary life.
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