Songs of the Ridings

In this lively anthology the listener is invited into the rolling dales and bustling towns of Yorkshire, where each poem rings with the unmistakable cadence of the local tongue. The verses act as miniature stage‑plays, letting farmers, mill workers, fishermen and even a solitary preacher speak their minds in the language they have carried for generations. By preserving the humor, the stubbornness and the quiet pride of these people, the collection feels less like a textbook of dialect while more like a warm conversation around a hearth.

The poet spent a decade wandering the three Ridings, noting not just words but the characters behind them, turning everyday remarks into dramatic monologues that echo the style of Browning while staying rooted in real life. Listeners will hear a lamplighter’s late‑night musings, a miner’s hope for better days, and a farmer’s blunt view of education, each rendered with affection and a sharp eye for detail. The result is a vivid portrait of a community that continues to sing its own songs, inviting you to hear Yorkshire as it truly sounds.