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In the rational modern world, belief in the supernatural seemingly has been consigned to the worlds of entertainment and fantasy. Yet belief in other worldly phenomena, from poltergeists to telepathy, remains strong, as Gillian Bennett's research shows. Especially common is belief in continuing contact with, or the continuing presence of, dead family members. Bennett interviewed women in Manchester, England, asking them questions about ghosts and other aspects of the supernatural. (Her discussion of how her research methods and interview techniques evolved is in itself valuable.) She first published the results of the study in the well-received Traditions of Belief: Women and the Supernatural, which has been widely used in folklore and women's studies courses. "e;Alas, Poor Ghost!"e; extensively revises and expands that work. In addition to a fuller presentation and analysis of the original field research and other added material, the author, assisted by Kate Bennett, a gerontological psychologist, presents and discusses new research with a group of women in Leicester, England. Bennett is interested in more than measuring the extent of belief in other worldly manifestations. Her work explores the relationship between narrative and belief. She anticipated that her questions would elicit from her interviewees not just yes or no replies but stories about their experiences that confirmed or denied notions of the supernatural. The more controversial the subject matter, the more likely individuals were to tell stories, especially if their answers to questions of belief were positive. These were most commonly individualized narratives of personal experience, but they contained many of the traditional motifs and other content, including belief in the supernatural, of legends. Bennett calls them memorates and discusses the cultural processes, including ideas of what is a "e;proper"e; experience of the supernatural and a "e;proper"e; telling of the story, that make them communal as well as individual. These memorates provide direct and vivid examples of what the storytellers actually believe and disbelieve. In a final section, Bennett places her work in historical context through a discussion of case studies in the history of supernatural belief.

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Ballads, Scots --- Literature and folklore --- Popular literature --- Ballads, English --- Oral tradition --- History and criticism --- History --- Congresses --- Child, Francis James --- Influence --- -Literature and folklore --- -Oral tradition --- -Ballads, English --- -Ballads, Scots --- -Popular literature --- -Literature, Popular --- Books and reading --- Popular culture --- Scots ballads --- Scottish ballads and songs --- English ballads --- English ballads and songs --- Tradition, Oral --- Oral communication --- Folklore --- Oral history --- Folklore and literature --- Literature and folk-lore --- -Congresses --- -Influence --- -History --- Literature, Popular --- History and criticism&delete& --- History&delete& --- Child, Francis James, --- Child, --- Child, F. J. --- Congresses. --- Ballads [English ] --- Great Britain --- 19th century --- 20th century --- Ballads, Scots - Scotland - History and criticism --- Literature and folklore - Great Britain - History - 19th century - Congresses --- Literature and folklore - History - 20th century - Congresses --- Popular literature - Great Britain - History and criticism --- Ballads, English - Great Britain - History and criticism --- Oral tradition - Great Britain - Congresses --- Child, Francis James - Influence - Congresses