Synopses & Reviews
The rich field of English balladry was virgin territory before Francis James Child entered it. The few published ballad editions that existed were unreliable, filled with unacknowledged editorial changes and distortions of the original manuscripts. Professor Child compiled all the extant ballads with all known variants, and made them available for the first time and#8212; together with his invaluable commentary that prefaces each work and#8212; in a single source that maintained absolute fidelity to the original texts. Published between 1882 and 1898, the original ten-part study became the definitive collection of popular ballads in the English language, never to be superceded. To this day, scholars and devotees speak of "The Child Ballads" with the awe and respect generated by few other literary works.
Volume 1: Parts I and II of the original set, ballads 1-53 including "Edward," "Lord Randal," "Tam Lin," "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight," "Earl Brand," "Thomas Rymer," more. Biographical sketch of Child by Prof. Kittredge, Child's portrait, additions and corrections.
Synopsis
"This great achievement seems destined to endure as long as the ballads themselves; few scholars have left so lasting a monument."—
Dictionary of American BiographyPublished between 1882 and 1898, Professor Child's study of popular ballads in the English language was the first comprehensive survey of all extant ballads and their known variants. Its absolute fidelity to the original texts, together with Child's invaluable commentary on each ballad, make it an unsurpassed resource. Volume I, which comprises Parts I & II of the original set, contains ballads 1–53, including "Earl Brand," "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight," "The Twa Sisters," "Lord Randal," "Thomas Rymer," "Tam Lin," and "Proud Lady Margaret." This volume also features a biographical sketch of Child by Professor G. L. Kittredge, Child's portrait by G. Kruell, and a section of additions and corrections. Unabridged republication of the works originally published between 1882 and 1898.
Synopsis
Published between 1882 and 1898, this definitive collection compiles all the extant ballads with all known variants and features Child's commentary for each work. Volume 1 includes Parts I and II of the original set ballads 1-53:"Edward," "Lord Randal," "Tam Lin," "Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight," more.