The Oxford Book of Ballads

The ballad is the most intensely dramatic of all poetic forms and its appeal is especially enduring. This anthology of the traditional ballads of England and Scotland covers the whole range of the genre. This anthology reminds us of several favorite ballads, such as "Tam Lin" and "The Bonny Earl of Murray," and introduces us to others that are less familiar. In all there are 150 ballads, over half of which are accompanied by their tune. James Kinsley has consulted manuscript and early printed sources to ensure that the text is as close as possible to the original singer's song.