Folklore Rules: A Fun, Quick, and Useful Introduction to the Field of American Folklore Studies

tain of youth” had more appeal than a geographical discovery which proved useful to later explorers on their future return trips to Europe. The next chapter, “Magic in the Waters: The Fantasy of Florida Beckons Newcomers,” focuses on the various issues that arise when a state has the largest concentration of springs in the world. These are now estimated at more than seven hundred. The State of Florida as a land of eternal health was a theme that some of its earliest promoters used to boost tourism as health spas and springs were developed in the late nineteenth century, with alleged cures for everything from consumption and jaundice to rheumatism and syphilis. Chapter Three, “Marketing the Myth: Inventing an American Eden,” highlights the manner in which the golden age of Florida tourism really started with World War Two. During this period, many of the grand hotels from the 1920s and 1930’s boom were pressed into service as military barracks and hospitals. During the war, there was an increase in servicemen who were stationed in Florida or who just visited there while they were on leave. They descended upon Florida’s existing attractions and further taxed the hotel and restaurant industries. To accommodate this burgeoning tourist trade, enterprising developers built and marketed parks to attract these military guests. After that, many GIs returned to the state with their families, some on vacation, others as permanent residents. State tourism officials built on this development and began to aggressively promote the state as a tropical paradise where fantasies came to life, and many of the state’s most enduring tourist attractions revolved around the enduring myth of the fountain of youth. The last chapter, “Swimming Holes to Sinkholes: Turning Crystal Waters into Liquid Gold,” deals with many of the environmental issues that a state with so many spas and springs must confront as many of them are public spaces, state and local parks, which are annually used for recreation by millions of residents and visitors. Yet the continued stress of overdevelopment puts the future of these watering holes at risk. Some, like Florida’s revered Silver Springs, are now on the endangered list. This springs’ flow and water quality are severely impaired, which is a common problem for watering holes throughout most of the state. In 1993, Silver Springs was sold to the State of Florida, and today a private company manages this theme park under a long-term lease. The book is an easy read and pure kitsch, but it is one that will have much appeal in popular culture. There is a good bibliography, but the strength of the book is twofold. First, there is the extraordinary collection of images which demonstrate how the myth of the fountain of youth and its magical, restorative waters has been used to promote Florida’s tourism industry. This has helped to propel the state to the fourth most populous one in the United States, with over nineteen million people, according to a 2013 Census Bureau estimate. Second, the author addresses the very real environmental issues, particularly the importance of protecting Florida’s fragile springs and other natural wonders, such as the Everglades, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world. These sites are on the verge of disappearing altogether as they face pressure from housing developments and businesses. –-Martin J. Manning U.S. Department of State