Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 2 (of 4)

audiobook

Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 2 (of 4)

EN·~3 hours·109 chapters

Chapters

109 total
1

POPULAR BRITISH BALLADS - ANCIENT AND MODERN - By Various - Chosen and edited by R. Brimley Johnson - Illustrated By W. C. Cooke In Four Volumes Volume II - 1894

0:10
2

Original

0:00
3

THOMAS THE RHYMER

1:29
4

Original

1:31
5

THE BONNY HIND

2:17
6

KING HENRY

0:01
7

Original

3:32
8

WILLY'S LADY

0:01
9

Original

3:41
10

THE DÆMON LOVER

2:47

Description

A lively anthology of British folk songs brings listeners into the world of centuries‑old verses, each one sung in the plain, rhythmic language that carried stories across hearths and fields. The collection gathers a mix of well‑known and obscure ballads, from the enchanted encounters of Thomas the Rhyming shepherd with the Queen of Elfland to the rustic courtship and tragedy of the Bonny Hind. Illustrations accompany the verses, adding a visual glimpse of the countryside, the green mantles and silver‑bell‑adorned riders that pepper the narratives.

The ballads celebrate both the ordinary and the supernatural, weaving themes of love, loyalty, warning, and wonder without ever losing the direct, sing‑along quality that made them popular in taverns and village gatherings. As each song unfolds, listeners hear characters negotiate fates, temptations, and promises, offering a vivid picture of the moral landscape that shaped early British folklore. The result is an immersive listening experience that feels like sitting beside a fire while a storyteller sings the ancient verses anew.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (205K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Widger from page images generously provided by Google Books

Release date

2014-03-28

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

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