The Oxford Book of Ballads by Arthur Quiller-Couch

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About this eBook

Editor Quiller-Couch, Arthur, 1863-1944
Title The Oxford Book of Ballads
Note Reading ease score: 86.3 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Produced by Charlene Taylor, Ted Garvin, Paul Clark and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
Summary "The Oxford Book of Ballads" by Arthur Quiller-Couch is a collection of traditional ballads compiled during the early 20th century. This anthology showcases selections from various English ballads, which are narrative songs that often recount folk tales or significant events. The work is intended to celebrate the art of balladry and to preserve this rich, national literary heritage for both students and lovers of poetry. The opening of the anthology sets the tone by discussing the nature of ballads and their historical context, explaining how the genre has largely declined in contemporary literature. Quiller-Couch organizes the ballads into thematic sections, starting with magical tales and proceeding through romance and historical narratives. He acknowledges his reliance on the foundational work of ballad scholars, emphasizing his aim to present a distilled version of these traditional stories, striking a balance between fidelity to the original texts and accessibility for modern readers. The introduction features several specific ballads, including "Thomas the Rhymer," highlighting their enchanting narratives and the universal themes of love, magic, and adventure. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
Subject Ballads, English -- Great Britain -- Texts
Category Text
EBook-No. 44593
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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