About this book
A Collection of Ballads by Andrew Lang rekindles the raw power of traditional folk songs and poems that shaped Britain's storytelling heritage. Lang’s anthology gathers dozens of time-worn ballads—Sir Patrick Spens, Tam Lin, Robin Hood episodes, The Bonnie Earl of Moray and many more—presented with an illuminating introduction that traces ballad scholarship from Percy and Scott to broader European comparisons.
These narrative poems and musical pieces explore themes of love, loss, heroism, vengeance, and the uncanny, reflecting rural life, social codes, and oral tradition. Lang treats the material as both literature and living music, considering variants, regional echoes, and parallels across Europe that reveal how improvisation and communal memory forged enduring stories. The tone ranges from elegiac laments to boisterous adventure, preserving meter and melody that made these works singable and unforgettable.
Ideal for fans of poetry, music, and literary history, this audiobook offers listeners a rich gateway into traditional balladry. Listen if you love folklore, want historical context for Britain’s folk repertoire, or enjoy vividly told, lyrical narratives that bridge song and story.
