Fiscal Ballads

A lively assortment of verse, this collection captures the gritty concerns of early‑twentieth‑century Britain through the eyes of a hard‑working artisan. The poet’s sharp, sing‑song rhymes tackle everything from imported sugar and tea to coal and cotton, turning economic debate into memorable, tongue‑in‑cheek ballads that echo the chatter of tavern tables and factory floors.

Written in a colloquial, almost conversational dialect, the poems blend humor with earnest advocacy for self‑reliance and protective trade policies. Listeners will hear a blend of satire and sincere hope, as the narrator wrestles with foreign competition, rising wages, and the promise of a stronger empire. The verses feel both of their time and surprisingly relevant, offering a window into the everyday patriotism and anxieties of ordinary people navigating a rapidly changing market.