The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings

The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings is a seminal work by American folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand, published in 1981. The book popularized the term "urban legend," which refers to stories that are widely believed to be true but are actually fictional.1

These legends often blend secondhand narratives with contemporary settings and everyday objects, spreading through word-of-mouth and increasingly via digital media. While often told for shock or humor, urban legends reflect societal anxieties, such as fears about technology or crime. The title story, "The Vanishing Hitchhiker," exemplifies this genre, featuring a traveler who encounters a hitchhiker who mysteriously disappears, often revealed to be a ghost. Urban legends are distinct from rumors or hoaxes due to their narrative structure and are studied as a significant part of modern folklore.1