{"product_id":"2026100011285-secondhand-the-oxford-book-of-ballads","title":"The Oxford Book Of Ballads","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Fair\u003cbr\u003eJacket: Chipped and worn with some minor damage\u003cbr\u003ePages: Yellowed\u003cbr\u003eMarkings: Previous owner\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew literary forms carry the raw, narrative power of the traditional ballad — and The Oxford Book of Ballads, chosen and edited by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, presents the finest flowering of this ancient tradition in a single, indispensable volume. This landmark anthology gathers the great ballads of the British Isles, from the haunting border ballads of Scotland to the tragic romances of English folk tradition, chronicling tales of love, betrayal, heroism, and the supernatural with a directness that cuts straight to the human heart. The collection includes immortal works such as Barbara Allen, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Chevy Chase, and Thomas the Rhymer, each selected with the discerning eye of a scholar who understood that the ballad is not merely verse, but living history set to rhythm.\n\nQuiller-Couch — Q to his admirers — brings to this anthology the same authoritative sensibility that distinguished his celebrated Oxford Book of English Verse, and his editorial vision illuminates the deep cultural roots from which these poems grew. The ballad form, with its incremental repetition, dramatic economy, and oral vitality, is shown here to be among the most enduring of all poetic traditions, capable of encoding the anxieties and aspirations of entire communities across centuries. This edition remains a cornerstone of English literary scholarship and an endlessly rewarding read for those who wish to understand the imaginative foundations of British poetry — leaving the reader to wonder what other untold stories still echo in the folk memory of these islands.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50573253247195,"sku":"2026100011285-SECONDHAND","price":30.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/d973f3e5-e749-404b-a8ec-fb6a06e8e665.png?v=1791167890","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100011285-secondhand-the-oxford-book-of-ballads","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}