Customer Reviews

The Oxford Book of Ballads

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I bought this book at a used bookstore when I was researching the ballad "The Cruel Sister" for a short story I was working on. Reading through it, I discovered a rich world of magic, romance, and tragedy within these old songs. From the well-known ballads like "Tam Lin" and "Thomas the Rhymer" to more obscure tales, just as affecting, there is so much here--"Kempion", the tale of a woman turned into a dragon, who can only resume her true form if the prince kisses her rather than fighting her. "Gil Brenton", the tale of a young woman trying to hide her pregnancy from her new husband--but there is something very interesting she doesn't know about her old lover's identity. And reams and reams of tragic songs of love lost.

Kinsley provides only one version of each of the ballads; some of them, in Child's original collection had twenty or more variants. But if you find one you are drawn to, you can always go to the library or search the Internet, and find the other versions. Think of Kinsley's book as a sort of overview, one that fits on your bookshelf with ease. Kinsley even provides melodies for some of the ballads whose tunes have survived. A good reference for ballad-lovers.