Fiscal Ballads

Harry GrahamProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 37K words
Chapters: 4

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Fiscal Ballads by Harry GrahamAuthor: Graham, Harry, 1874-1936,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: May 5, 2011

Editor's review

Fiscal Ballads is a collection of verse by the British writer Harry Graham on public issues such as finance, taxation, and tariffs, using the ballad form to satirize and poke fun at the economic policies and political debates of his day. Graham is known for light rhythm and playful wording, turning dry fiscal topics into catchy verse that has both the edge of topical commentary and the appeal of humorous literature. For readers studying the British tradition of political satire, ballad-form literature, or the fiscal debates of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this work offers a distinctive textual sample; for general readers, it is short and light in language, a good introduction to English verse satire. Note that the work is closely tied to its historical context, and its fiscal terms and personal allusions are somewhat remote for contemporary readers, so it is best read alongside historical background notes.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in British political satire and ballad-form verse
Students of the interaction between modern fiscal and taxation issues and public opinion
English-language readers who want a light introduction to the tradition of English satire in verse
Collectors of public-domain literary e-books who prefer short verse

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting systematic fiscal theory or policy analysis
Readers impatient with verse forms and satirical style who prefer prose narrative
Readers unfamiliar with modern British politics and fiscal background who are unwilling to consult notes

Reading tips

Read one piece first to get a feel for the meter and satirical tone, then choose pieces related to fiscal debates by theme.
Jot down unfamiliar fiscal terms and names as you read, and compare with materials on modern British fiscal history.
Read aloud to appreciate the satirical effect of the ballad rhythm and rhyme.
Use it as a supplementary text for studying political satire, reading it alongside newspaper commentary of the same period.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is this book mainly about?

It is a collection of verse on public issues such as finance, taxation, and tariffs, in which the author uses the ballad form to satirize and poke fun at the fiscal policies and political debates of the time. It is political satire, not a treatise on finance.

Can I understand it without a background in finance?

Yes, but many allusions and terms depend on the British fiscal debates of the time, so without background you may only catch the surface wit. It helps to consult a brief introduction to modern British fiscal history or start with shorter, clearly themed pieces.

What form is this edition?

This edition is released by Project Gutenberg as a free e-book in English and is a public-domain literary work. Readers can obtain the electronic text free of charge; see the release page for specific layout and format.

Is it suitable as English-learning material?

It can serve as supplementary material for encountering English verse and satirical expression, with light meter and short length that make it good for reading aloud. But it contains many fiscal terms and historical allusions, so it is not recommended as a main textbook for beginners.

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About the author

Harry Graham Author · English · 1874–1936

Harry Graham (1874–1936) was a British journalist, humorous poet and lyricist, born on 23 December 1874 and died in London on 30 October 1936. Educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he served early on as an officer in the Coldstream Guards and later became known by the pen name "Colonel D. Streamer." Graham made his name with collections of darkly comic verse, including Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes and Perverted Proverbs, works that often subvert moral lessons and everyday common sense in playful rhyme laced with cool irony. He also wrote lyrics for several musical comedies, showing a versatile way with words. The library holds 10 of his works, commonly classified under inspirational growth, though his writing is closer to British comic and satirical verse. Public information is limited.