Giuseppe Cocchiara - prominent Italian scientist, author of books "Problems of folk poetry," Palermo, 1939, "History of the study of folk traditions in Italy," ibid., 1947, "The Myth of the Virtuous Savage," Messina, 1948, and "The People and Literature in Italy", Turin, 1959.The published book is an attempt to present the history of folklore on a pan-European scale and contains a lot of factual material on the collection and study of folklore and partly literary folklore from the 15th century to the present day. The author freshly and meaningfully sets out the background of scientific folklore since the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries; folklore-ethnological theories are analyzed in connection with the philosophical views of scientists and on a wide cultural and historical background. The author stands on progressive positions, is convinced of the deep nationality of folklore, considers the principle of historicism the main basis of folklore methodology, criticizes anti-democratic and reactionary-nationalist trends. The book has scientific value and is of interest to all folklorists, ethnographers and a wide range of readers interested in the history of culture.