Additional information
by Harold Courlander (Editor)
In A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore, editor Harold Courlander brings together an extensive and unique collection of tales, recollections, epics, traditions, beliefs, myths, historical chronicles, and songs from the numerous Negro cultures of the New World. Courlander explores the unwritten traditions and literature of the Spanish, French, and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean, the areas of Central and South America inhabited by people of African descent, the black communities of the United States, and many others. With a focus on the interconnectedness of cultural inheritances throughout the Afro-American region as well as the local divergences, this remarkable collection demonstrates the powerful cultural influence of Africa on this side of the Atlantic. A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore is a must-read for anyone interested in this exciting aspect of America's cultural history. Illustrated with photographs and drawings throughout, this classic collection is now beautifully repackaged. "This is the most important collection of Afro-American folklore compiled."--Ralph Ellison
Back Jacket
Afro-American Folklore, as seen in this collection, includes a wide array of orally transmitted traditions of the numerous, sometimes disparate, Negro cultures of the New World. Among these traditions are tales of scoundrels, heroes, rollicking adventures, friendship, and much more: songs, myths, myth-legends, epic-like narrations, and recollections of historical happenings. There are descriptions of cult life, around which many traditions and beliefs flow; of music and dance, which have an integral connection with traditional ways; and of the social scene in places where African and European, or white and black ideas intermingled and became Afro-American. A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore perceives the interconnections of cultural inheritances throughout the Afro-American region and the local divergences as well. Early sections of the book survey the traditions and oral literature of Spanish, French, and English-speaking islands of the Caribbean, and of areas of Central and South America inhabited by people of African descent. There follows an extensive section devoted to the tales, beliefs, recollections, songs, religious epics, and a wide variety of oral creations of blacks in the United States. The Appendixes include a number of African stories and descriptions that point up the impact of African traditions on the cultures of Afro-America. A Treasury of Afro-American Folklore is a remarkable achievement, a major work in a field that has long needed in-depth exploration. It belongs on the shelf of every library, and in the homes of all who have an interest in this exciting aspect of America's cultural history.
Author Biography
HAROLD COURLANDER (1914-1996) wrote many well-regarded books about the traditions, lore, and oral literature of various peoples in Africa. His works include A Treasury of African Folklore, The Fourth World of the Hopis, Tales of the Yoruba Gods and Heroes, The African, and The Son of the Leopard.
