The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Balladists, by John Geddie
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Title: The Balladists
Famous Scots Series
Author: John Geddie
Release Date: August 17, 2009 [EBook #29713]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE BALLADISTS
[Illustration:
THE BALLADISTS
BY
JOHN
GEDDIE
FAMOUS
.SCOTS.
.SERIES.
PUBLISHED BY
OLIPHANT ANDERSON
& FERRIER . EDINBURGH
AND LONDON
]
* * * * *
The designs and ornaments of this volume are by Mr. Joseph Brown, and
the printing from the press of Messrs. T. and A. Constable, Edinburgh.
* * * * *
PREFACE
Not much more has been attempted in these pages than to extract the
marrow of the Scottish Ballad Minstrelsy. They will have served their
purpose if they help to awaken, or to renew, a relish for the contents
of the Ballad Book. To know and love these grand old songs is its own
exceeding great reward; and it is also, alas! almost the only means now
left to us of knowing something concerning their nameless writers.
Questions involving literary or critical controversy as to the age and
genuineness of the ballads have been, as far as possible, avoided in
this popular presentation of their beauties and their qualities; and in
case any challenge may be made of the origin or authenticity of the
passages quoted, I may say that, in nearly every case, I have prudently,
and of purpose, refrained from giving the authority for my text, and
have taken that which best pleases my own ear or has clung most closely
to my memory.
J. G.
_July 1896._
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I
BALLAD CHARACTERISTICS 9
CHAPTER II
BALLAD GROWTH AND BALLAD HISTORY 24
CHAPTER III
BALLAD STRUCTURE AND BALLAD STYLE 43
CHAPTER IV
THE MYTHOLOGICAL BALLAD
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