“Richard Bauman, one of the world’s foremost scholars of folkloric texts and performances, is here at the peak of his career. From street cries in a Mexican market to Icelandic folktales, from practical jokes in rural Texas to the yarns of Nova Scotia fishermen, this book takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the words through which people make meaning out of life.” Greg Urban, University of Pennsylvania

“In a set of empirically rich, evocative essays, Bauman continues his masterly explorations at the border of linguistic anthropology, literary theory, and the study of oral poetics. Together, these chapters provide an exemplary theoretical perspective on genre and the cultural implications of performance.” Susan Gal, University of Chicago

“Richard Bauman has given us a wonderful book, which draws on his wide-ranging experience in many places and cultures, on his expertise in both oral discourse and written texts, and on his erudite knowledge in many academic disciplines---linguistic anthropology, folklore, and literary criticism.” Joel Sherzer, University of Texas, Austin

"A fresh take on folklore studies and a valuable addition to the corpus of writing on linguistic anthropology. The writer balances attention to detail with the ability to present arguments elegantly and clearly." Social Anthropology