The Book of Ballads

audiobook

The Book of Ballads

by William Edmondstoune Aytoun, Sir Theodore Martin

EN·~3 hours

Chapters

Description

Step into a lively tapestry of medieval song, where brave knights, daring maidens, and distant courts clash in rhyme and rhythm. The collection opens with a spirited encounter at a Moorish well, as a Christian count and a desert maiden trade wits, broken pottery, and daring kisses. Their playful rivalry sets the tone for a series of vivid, sing‑song narratives that echo the passions and politics of 15th‑century Iberia.

Later verses shift to the grim cell of Don Fernando Gomersalez, a captive noble whose legend grows amid the clamor of Moorish festivals and the looming threat of battle. Through brisk, alliterative couplets the poems capture the clash of cultures, the weight of honor, and the stubborn hope that burns behind every warrior’s eyes. Listeners will find themselves carried by the cadence of ancient ballads, each one a window onto love, bravery, and the timeless dance of conflict.

Details

Full title

The Book of Ballads Eleventh Edition, 1870

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (178K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by David Widger from page scans generously provided by the Internet Archive

Release date

2014-01-30

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the authors

William Edmondstoune Aytoun

William Edmondstoune Aytoun

1813–1865

A sharp-witted Scottish poet, critic, and professor, he mixed literary learning with a gift for satire and storytelling. His work ranges from comic verse to stirring ballads, with a lasting place in 19th-century Scottish literature.

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Sir Theodore Martin

Sir Theodore Martin

1816–1909

A Scottish man of letters, he moved easily between law and literature, becoming known for poetry, translation, and warmly written biography. His books helped bring figures like Goethe and Prince Albert closer to Victorian readers.

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