Mississippi River Tales: From the American Storytelling Tradition

Twelve stories comprise this collection about the Mississippi, its fabulous floods, the islands and flats that reappear as the waters recede and the diverse people who live along its shores and run the steamboats, rafts, skiffs and dugouts. Featured are an account of a Civil War battle fought on the river, an ancient Indian tale of a wronged wife, a macabre story of the revenge of underwater creatures, an adventure involving a part-time paperhanger and sometime ``deteckative'' and a steamboat race (evoking the ship's ``little faded staterooms, that in their time had heard the laughter of fair women, the whispers of politicians; that had seen the meetings of statesmen, the brawls of gamblers . . . ''). The book's pedestrian level and mannered styles are discouraging; readers will seek refuge in Mark Twain. The editors collaborated on Yankee Witches (above). (Oct.)