{"product_id":"2026100012545-secondhand-the-oxford-book-of-ballads","title":"The Oxford Book Of Ballads","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdition: repr.,\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Fair\u003cbr\u003eJacket: Wear and tear with damage\u003cbr\u003ePages: Yellowed\u003cbr\u003eMarkings: Previous owner\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew literary forms capture the raw pulse of human experience quite like the ballad — and The Oxford Book of Ballads stands as the definitive treasury of this ancient art. Chosen and edited by one of the foremost literary scholars of his era, this landmark anthology assembles the greatest traditional and broadside ballads from the British Isles, ranging from the blood-soaked border conflicts of Chevy Chase and The Battle of Otterburn to the haunting supernatural laments of The Daemon Lover and Thomas the Rhymer. Rooted in the oral tradition and steeped in the folklore of centuries, these poems chronicle tales of doomed love, heroic sacrifice, supernatural visitation, and social injustice with a stark, unflinching directness that no other poetic form can match.\n\nArthur Quiller-Couch — known affectionately as Q — brings his celebrated editorial intelligence and passion for the English literary heritage to bear on this meticulously curated collection, presenting the ballads in authoritative texts while illuminating their historical and cultural contexts. As the editor of The Oxford Book of English Verse, Quiller-Couch was uniquely positioned to recognise the ballad's foundational role in shaping the broader tradition of English poetry, and his selections reflect both scholarly rigour and a connoisseur's instinct for emotional power. Published by the prestigious Clarendon Press at Oxford, this volume remains an essential reference for anyone who wishes to understand where English poetry truly began — and to feel, in the marrow of these ancient verses, why it still endures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50948308664539,"sku":"2026100012545-SECONDHAND","price":15.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/c0aa79e8-1b30-44a7-9f9d-ce5f9e8c3f5c.png?v=1793104403","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026100012545-secondhand-the-oxford-book-of-ballads","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}