Yorkshire Lyrics

John HartleyProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 420K words
Chapters: 43

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.Yorkshire Lyrics by John HartleyAuthor: Hartley, John, 1839-1915,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 5, 2006

Editor's review

John Hartley was a nineteenth-century Yorkshire dialect poet, and Yorkshire Lyrics gathers his poems in the local dialect, a primary source for understanding English regional literature and dialect writing. Its core value is the language itself: the spelling, vocabulary, and rhythm of Yorkshire dialect retain a vivid regional character, letting readers feel the life and humor of ordinary people in northern England around the industrial era. For those studying dialect literature, local history, or popular English poetry, the book offers rare original samples. A caveat: dialect spelling significantly raises the difficulty, and non-native readers or those without relevant background may struggle. As a public-domain Project Gutenberg e-book the text is easy to obtain, but it usually lacks detailed dialect notes and introductory guidance. Treat it as material for observing language and local culture rather than an ordinary poetry collection to be read smoothly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and students of English dialect literature or regional poetry
Readers interested in Yorkshire local history and folklore
Language lovers who enjoy English dialect writing and are willing to read slowly
Researchers who need nineteenth-century popular English poetry texts

Not a good fit for

Learners whose English reading is not yet fluent and who need easy material
General readers expecting standard English poetry and detailed notes
Readers who want only to skim quickly and will not adapt to dialect spelling

Reading tips

Read a few short poems first to get used to the dialect spelling, then expand gradually; do not start by reading straight through.
Prepare a Yorkshire dialect glossary or background material to consult alongside the text.
Read aloud: the rhythm and flavor of dialect verse are easily lost in silent reading.
Choose poems by theme and use local-history sources to understand the scenes of life in them.

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

Can I read this book without knowing Yorkshire dialect?

You can, but it will be hard going. The poems use much dialect spelling and regional vocabulary, and even standard-English readers need time to adapt. Use a dialect glossary or related research to help, and start with short pieces.

What are the poems mainly about?

Judging by Hartley's identity as a local poet and by the title, the poems mostly draw on the daily life, local scenery, and human manners of ordinary Yorkshire people, with the humor and plainness common to dialect literature. Readers should check the individual poems for specifics.

Does the electronic edition include dialect notes?

Project Gutenberg public-domain e-books usually present the original text, and this one generally lacks detailed dialect notes or an introduction. Readers who need word-by-word understanding must prepare a dialect dictionary or related scholarship themselves.

Comments

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About the author

John Hartley Author · English · 1839–1915

John Hartley (1839–1915) was a British poet born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, and died in Wallasey. He wrote mainly poetry and prose in the Yorkshire dialect. His works have a sentimental tone and often reflect the poverty of local people. From 1866 he edited The Illuminating Clock Almanac. His representative works include Yorkshire Ditties, Yorkshire Tales, and Yorksher Puddin', as well as two series of Yorkshire Ditties and Seets i' Paris; six of his works are held in this collection. Public information is limited, but these works show that he drew on dialect to write about local experience and that he holds a place in the regional literary tradition.