Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787) A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb, 1711, by William Wagstaffe; The Knave of Hearts, 1787, by George Canning

Listeners are invited into a compact yet lively anthology that gathers two eighteenth‑century satires aimed at the era’s ballad critics. The first piece, a mock‑serious commentary on the tiny hero of Tom Thumb, plays with the language of scholarly pretension, while the later work, The Knave of Hearts, turns the same critical eye on the fashionable fascination with folk verses. Both texts sparkle with the same dry humor that made the period’s pamphlets such a popular pastime.

The volume opens with a detailed introduction that places these parodies in the bustling world of Augustan literary debate. The editor explains how figures like Addison, Dry Dryden, and the Spectators shaped a clash between classical ideals and rustic charm, and why those clashes still echo in modern discussions of popular culture. Accompanying notes clarify obscure references, allowing listeners to appreciate the wit without getting lost in historical minutiae. Together, the essays and commentary offer a glimpse of how 1700s writers both mocked and celebrated the humble ballad.