Ballad Book

A welcoming guide to the world of early English and Scottish verse, this collection brings together the most vivid ballads that once echoed through hearths and battlefield camps. Organized into three lively groups—superstitious tales of fairies, witches and ghosts; traditional folk narratives from the British Isles; and more intimate romances and domestic scenes—the anthology offers listeners a taste of the raw, rhythmic storytelling that shaped later poetry. Brief notes accompany each piece, pointing out the source version and explaining archaic words, so the listener can follow the tale without getting lost in old dialect.

Beyond mere entertainment, the volume serves as a gentle introduction for anyone curious about the roots of poetic form. By hearing these rugged, sing‑song verses, listeners discover how early poets wove memory, myth and everyday life into verses that still resonate today. The selection invites modern ears to feel the same wonder and energy that captivated generations of readers and reciters.