Myths and Legends of Our Own Land

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Myths and Legends of Our Own Land

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

This landmark 1896 anthology preserves America's rustic myths and regional legends, from the Catskills to the Pacific Coast. Charles M. Skinner reconstructs tales blending history and folklore, featuring Rip Van Winkle, regicide judges, and Native American creation stories. With a tone of reverence for the supernatural and a focus on how legend humanizes the landscape, the book offers a rich collection of folktales that celebrate the country's storytelling traditions.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1896, *Myths and Legends of Our Own Land* by Charles M. Skinner challenges the notion that America is too young to possess a rich legendary heritage. Skinner argues that legends grow backward as a nation grows forward, asserting that the United States is not devoid of myth and folklore. The book serves as a comprehensive bibliography of American legends, organized geographically from the Hudson River and Catskills to the Pacific Coast, weaving together European-style folklore, indigenous beliefs, and colonial history. Skinner explores iconic narratives such as Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle," detailing the protagonist's twenty-year sleep in the Catskills and his return to a transformed world under General Washington. The collection also features local supernatural entities, including the "Catskill Gnomes" and the "Catskill Witch," who controlled the weather and haunted the Hudson Valley. Historical tales are interwoven with the supernatural, such as the story of regicide judges William Goffe and John Whalley, who hid in New England caves and appeared as an "Unknown Champion" saving a congregation during King Philip's War. The anthology delves deeply into Native American traditions and colonial witchcraft trials. It recounts the creation of Mount Shasta by the Great Spirit, the tragic love story of Lillinonah and her white lover at Lover's Leap, and the origins of the White Mountains. Skinner also covers accounts like the case of Goody Cole, a woman wrongly accused of witchcraft, and General Moulton's deal with the Devil. By combining these diverse elements, Skinner presents a vivid tapestry of American folklore, inviting future artists and writers to explore these enduring stories that have evolved from oral narratives, histories, and newspapers into a unique national mythology.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/charles-m-skinner_myths-and-legends-of-our-own-land.epub

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data/epubs/url-0f71345a9afa04b8.epub

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Categories

• Folklore
• History