The Balladists

Geddie, John, 1848-1937Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 215K words
Chapters: 22

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.The Balladists by John GeddieAuthor: Geddie, John, 1848-1937,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Aug 17, 2009

Editor's review

This book is Scottish author John Geddie's study of ballad poets and the ballad tradition, belonging to English literary criticism. Geddie long attended to Scottish local history and folk literature; in this book he surveys the transmission, authorship, and textual features of ballads in a style that is accessible yet grounded in scholarship, making it suitable as an introductory read for understanding the early face of English ballad studies. Its value lies not in proposing startling new theses but in presenting how scholars from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century viewed folk ballads: valuing oral tradition while also attending to literary reworking and regional color. It is best read as a piece of literary history rather than a modern folklore monograph. For English readers, it offers insight into the boundaries and controversies of the ballad genre; for Chinese readers, a certain reading proficiency in English is required, and it is best read alongside an anthology of ballad texts to appreciate the specific texts discussed. The electronic edition comes from Project Gutenberg, plainly typeset, suitable for searching and excerpting, and also as course supplementary material or background reading for research.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English literature students needing background on ballad studies and the history of literary criticism
General readers interested in Scottish folk ballads and narrative poetry
Researchers in folklore or comparative literature needing original English sources
Self-learners seeking low-cost electronic editions to supplement literary history knowledge

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic ballad anthology or collection of original texts
Beginners who struggle with English reading and hope for a direct Chinese translation
Readers seeking contemporary folklore theory or the latest research findings

Reading tips

Read the table of contents and introduction first to clarify the scope of ballads and core concepts discussed, then proceed to specific chapters.
Read alongside an English ballad anthology; when ballads are quoted, try to locate the originals to aid understanding of the argument.
Note names, places, and ballad titles as you read, as clues for later searching and further reading.
For coursework or papers, closely read only chapters relevant to your topic and skim the rest as background.

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

Is this book a ballad collection or a research monograph?

According to available information, it is John Geddie's monograph on ballad poets and the ballad tradition, belonging to English literary criticism rather than a compilation of original ballads. It discusses authorship, transmission, and textual issues of ballads, but should not be used as an anthology. To read original ballads, find a dedicated anthology to read alongside.

Can someone with average English proficiency read this book?

This is an original English work discussing literary history and critical concepts, with formal prose and references to ballad titles and place names. Readers with average English proficiency may find it challenging; it is advisable to have fluent reading ability for long English texts, or use a dictionary and translation aids, and read the introduction and conclusion first to grasp the main ideas.

What are the features of this electronic edition?

This edition comes from Project Gutenberg, a free e-book, primarily in plain text, convenient for searching, copying, and excerpting, but typically lacking the detailed notes and introduction of modern scholarly editions. It is suitable as background reading or a source of research leads; for citation, verify specific page numbers and edition information.

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About the author

Geddie, John, 1848-1937 Author · Scottish · 1848–1937

John Geddie (1848–1937) was a Scottish writer and editor who wrote for Chambers publishers. Public information about his life is limited, and existing records center mainly on his writing and editorial work. His books deal largely with literary history and ballad studies, combining documentary research with accessible narration to introduce Scottish literary traditions and local settings to general readers. His representative works include The Balladists, which focuses on ballad poets and their writing, and The Scott Country, which concerns the places and culture associated with Scott, reflecting his tendency to connect literary study with local knowledge. Two of his works are held in this collection; though few in number, they show his sustained interest in Scottish ballads and the local character of literature.