Caribbean Folklore

This guide to Caribbean folklore is a useful reference book for scholars as well as anyone interested in beginning research on the subject. Unlike other texts, it expands the geographical map of what is commonly understood as the Caribbean to explore pockets of Caribbean culture found in the United States (South Carolina, Georgia, New Orleans, Southern Louisiana, and even New York City) and Cananda (Montreal). It also does not restrict itslef to a specific Caribbean language and includes folklore from Spanish-, English-, and French-speaking parts of the Caribbean. Its layout is easy to follow with sections that provide definitions and classifications, examples of folklore and texts, outstanding scholars in the field, and Caribbean folklore's influence on cutlure -- music, literature, and dance. Following the text is a lengthy glossary, a bibliography, and web resources. * MultiCultural Review *
The Greenwood Folklore Handbooks series has published yet another fine introduction to a specific topic under its general rubric. The author of this well-put-together book knows that the folklore of the Caribbean, although widespread in its influence, has not been well documented in the academic world. Therefore, Hill has collated what does exist, written informative essays to cover broad general areas, explained what is and is not clear and/or available in the current literature, and given extensive bibliographies for researchers and interested students to follow up on and do larger studies in the future….As the far corners of our world become easier to reach, it is important that we incorporate anything that is unique into the larger vision of what we are and what we can become as a world culture. Every place of human habitation has something to say about our values. This handbook is a good starting place for understanding a heretofore less-than-clear part of that culture. * American Reference Books Annual *
With such a diverse African and Spanish heritage the folklore of the Caribbean is complex. Where other books examine the historic aspects of folklore, Donald Hill's experience was of a culture still alive with ancient tradition. * Storylines *
[A] winning collection….From examples and texts to definitions and classifications of Caribbean folklore, this reference covers customs, culture, and literary and social contexts alike, and is a key to understanding the body of literature on Caribbean folklore. * Midwest Book Review/California Bookwatch *
…Caribbean Folklore: A Handbook holds the potential to be most useful in a classroom environment where concepts and topics can be fleshed out and contextualized through guided discussion and research. * Journal of Folklore Research *