Ancient Poems Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England (ebook)

Ancient Poems Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England (ebook) PDF (Adobe DRM)

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Robert Bell edited Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England. Robert Bell states in his preface his belief in the realism of the English peasantry. "The value of this volume consists in the genuineness of its contents, and the healthiness of its tone. While fashionable life was masquerading in imaginary Arcadias, and deluging theatres and concert rooms with shams, the English peasant remained true to the realities of his own experience, and produced and sang songs which faithfully reflected the actual life around him. Whatever these songs describe is true to that life. There are no fictitious raptures in them. Love here never dresses its emotions in artificial images, nor disguises itself in the mask of a Strephon or a Daphne. It is in this particular aspect that the poetry of the country possesses a permanent and moral interest."