Alligators in the Sewer : And 222 Other Urban Legends by Thomas J. Craughwell

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Alligators in the Sewer, a comprehensive collection of urban legends, compiles hundreds of these wild and entertaining tales. With themes that run the gamut from funny to sick, risque to informative, frightening to disgusting and bizarre, urban folklore can chill spines, spark smiles or turn stomachs, and the stories are remarkable for their uncanny ability to travel by word of mouth--often with a few subtle changes catering to the needs of whoever is retelling them. They've been celebrated in newspapers, movies, and , most notably, on the late 20th century's misinformation superhighway: the internet. But far from a contemporary phenomenon, the urban legend has been around since medieval times, and it's the irresistible and intriguing nature of the stories--distinctly dark, invariably humorous, and always just plausible enough to be believed--that allows them to endure. These tales play on our collective fears and anxieties, and they're compelling because no one can be sure which stories are true, which are elaborate embellishments of facts, and which h are the result of nothing more than a twisted imagination and a flair for story-telling.

All the favorites are hear and arranged by genre--from The Stolen Kidney and Other Medical Mishaps to Naked at his Own Surprise Party and Other Sexual Escapades, plus hundreds more strange-but-perhaps-not-completely-untrue anecdotes. Some of these legends have resurfaced in different forms again and again through the years--like the tales of King Arthur's life-after-death that bear a striking resemblance to rumors about the afterlives of modern heroes like Elvis Presley, Andy Kaufman, and Tupac Shakur. When available, each story's variations through history have been included, along with all the modern versions. From Roswell, New Mexico to the thieves who left only the toothbrush and the camera, Alligators in the Sewer is a novel examination of pop culture's shady underbelly as well as an authoritative reference of contemporary folklore with stories guaranteed to amuse, enlighten and freak you out.

About the Author
Thomas Craughwell is the author of Great Books for Every Book Lover, Every Eye Beholds You: A World Anthology of Prayer and every edition of the Book Lover's Page-a-Day Calendar since it first appeared in 1995. He reviews books for several different publications and lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

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