The Penguin Book Of Ballads
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
From brooding moorlands and storm-lashed coasts to the shadowed halls of ancient castles, the ballad tradition captures the raw, unfiltered heart of human experience — and The Penguin Book of Ballads, edited by the distinguished poet and critic Geoffrey Grigson, presents one of the finest collections of this enduring art form. This landmark anthology gathers a rich tapestry of English, Scottish, and Irish ballads, chronicling tales of doomed lovers, vengeful spirits, brave outlaws, and fateful battles, drawing from the deep wells of oral tradition that shaped the literature of the British Isles for centuries. Grigson's editorial vision is both scholarly and deeply personal; he selects and arranges these verses with the authority of a man who understands that the ballad is not merely a poem, but a living record of a people's fears, desires, and moral imagination. His thoughtful introductions illuminate the historical and cultural contexts from which these songs emerged, illustrating how themes of betrayal, honour, the supernatural, and love traverse centuries without losing their power. Whether the reader is a seasoned scholar of folk literature or a curious newcomer, this collection leaves one pondering the timeless question at the core of every ballad: when fate closes in, what truly defines a human soul?
Author: Geoffrey Grigson
Format: Paperback
Genre: Anthology
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
From brooding moorlands and storm-lashed coasts to the shadowed halls of ancient castles, the ballad tradition captures the raw, unfiltered heart of human experience — and The Penguin Book of Ballads, edited by the distinguished poet and critic Geoffrey Grigson, presents one of the finest collections of this enduring art form. This landmark anthology gathers a rich tapestry of English, Scottish, and Irish ballads, chronicling tales of doomed lovers, vengeful spirits, brave outlaws, and fateful battles, drawing from the deep wells of oral tradition that shaped the literature of the British Isles for centuries. Grigson's editorial vision is both scholarly and deeply personal; he selects and arranges these verses with the authority of a man who understands that the ballad is not merely a poem, but a living record of a people's fears, desires, and moral imagination. His thoughtful introductions illuminate the historical and cultural contexts from which these songs emerged, illustrating how themes of betrayal, honour, the supernatural, and love traverse centuries without losing their power. Whether the reader is a seasoned scholar of folk literature or a curious newcomer, this collection leaves one pondering the timeless question at the core of every ballad: when fate closes in, what truly defines a human soul?