Green, who previously edited issues of the Journal of American Folklore, has put his skills to good use in this new encyclopedia. Its purpose is to "provide an introduction to the scholarship in general and facilitate the pursuit of more specialized topics." There are approximately 240 articles varying in length from one to ten pages and covering forms, themes, and methods of inquiry. Each entry begins with a basic definition that situates the topic in the field of folklore and folkloric research. This is generally followed by a historical overview with information and analysis of the important studies and research. Each entry contains a bibliography or reference list for further reading, as well as see also references. Front matter in each volume includes a list of entries in both volumes. An index to both volumes appears at the end of volume 2.
This resource offers much more in-depth and scholarly treatment of the forms of folklore, such as ballads, tales, and legends, than the Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore [RBB F 1 96]. For example, the six-page entry children's folklore details not only the different kinds of play, playground lore, and folklore related to childhood but also the history of scholarship in the field and problems associated with the study of this type of folklore. Other entries, such as evolutionary theory, delve into theories that have been abandoned. Noted authorities in the field contributed many of the entries; conduit theory/multiconduit theory, for example, was written by Linda Degh, who originally developed the theory. Entries generally take a cross-cultural perspective, such as the excellent article on the chapbook, written by Michael Preston, who examines both historical and contemporary chapbooks, and includes information about Brazil, Portuguese chapbooks, and other works from outside the Western tradition. Although there are no biographical entries, information on the contributions of key individuals can be found in relevant entries.
This resource will have many uses in high-school, public, and academic libraries with an interest in the field of folklore. It is an excellent one-stop source for information and background on the state of research in folklore and customs.