This lively reader traces the search for American tradition and national identity through folklore and folklife from the 19th century to the present. Through an engaging set of essays, Folk Nation shows how American thinkers and leaders have used folklore to express the meaning of their country. Simon Bronner has carefully selected statements by public intellectuals and popular writers as well as by scholars, all chosen for their readability and significance...

"Why do people hold onto traditions? Many pundits predicted that modernization and the proliferation of mass culture would eliminate traditions, particularly in America. But modern cultural practices constantly invoke tradition for the development of identity, heritage, and community. In Explaining Traditions: Folk Behavior in Modern Culture, Simon J. Bronner discusses the underlying reasons for the continuing popularity of traditions, delving into...

"In the words of one prominent scholar, Alan Dundes's "essays virutally created the meaning of folklore as an American academic discipline." This selection of those essays surveys his major ideas and emphases. Simon Bronner frames them with a thorough discussion and analysis of Dundes's career, interpretations, and contributions to folklore studies."--Jacket.