Books like Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid by Jan Harold Brunvand

"Spooky retellings of well-known urban legends"--Provided by publisher.

An in-depth exploration of the myths and legends surrounding American history, debunking accepted truths and uncovering the real stories.

The Bosom Serpent examines how traditional folklore motifs persist in contemporary popular culture, from B-movies and TV shows to supermarket tabloids.

A collection of urban legends and legends compiled by author Jan Harold Brunvand, focusing on modern folklore and its variations over time.

The Encyclopedia of Urban Legends is the definitive work from the world's foremost authority on the study of urban legends, Jan Harold Brunvand. This encyclopedia offers descriptions of hundreds of individual legends. The thorough coverage of urban legends includes all countries in which published urban legend collections are presently available. Urban legends are a specimen of modern folk narrative, and this encyclopedia contains entries on how to collect, classify, and analyze texts and performances.Other entries discuss the relationship of urban legends to literature, film, comic books, music, and many other areas of popular culture. Coverage includes academic legends, earthquake stories, Internet resources, tabloids in urban legends, and more. All entries are cross referenced and feature brief bibliographies. A general bibliography suggests further readings on the subject. The volume is richly illustrated and is based on the latest scholarship, including materials available on the Internet.

Updated and expanded edition of the classic reference standard for urban legends and myths