So Ole Says to Lena: Folk Humor of the Upper Midwest » (2ND)

James P. Leary is director of the Folklore Program and professor in the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His books include Wisconsin Folklore, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press, Minnesota Polka, Yodeling in Dairyland, and, with Richard March, Down Home Dairyland.

In this collection of folk humor from the Midwest, Leary (Scandinavian studies, U. of Wisconsin-Madison) presents jokes, humorous anecdotes, and tall tales from a variety of ethnic groups—Woodland Indians, French, Cornish, Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, Finns, and Poles—and working people—loggers, miners, farmers, townsfolk, hunters, and fishers—and from a variety of everyday community settings. Brief, explanatory cultural notes follow each entry. Also included are photographs of some of the joke tellers, collection notes, and a bibliography. Indexing is by tellers, place names, motifs and tale types. Scholarly, but accessible to the general reader. Changes in the second edition are not spelled out. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Clyde Wade

Leary conveys a palpable sense of the original joke telling experience.