The Bell Witch in Myth and Memory: From Local Legend to International Folktale

"While dozens of books and articles have rehearsed the chilling lore surrounding the "infamous Bell Witch of Tennessee," Rick Gregory takes a different approach. He illuminates the oral traditions that preserved and disseminated the tale; discusses the major factors in its regional, national, and international spread; analyzes how the legend mirrors other national and international stories with similar themes; and finally describes its modern circulation through the World Wide Web and other technologies. In exploring the Bell Witch story in this manner, Gregory sheds light not only on the folklore of Tennessee with its strong tradition of oral history but also provides insight into the persistent, global phenomenon of folklore itself"--