Discover the beggar in England’s literary past and how society shaped his fame
This scholarly study traces the beggar’s role from the earliest times to the end of the 17th century, blending literary analysis with social history to show how ballads, plays, and poems reflect a changing world.
Two concise sections frame the work: it explains how ballads evolved—from rough medieval scenes to later, more playful forms—and how the beggar literature mirrors shifts in taste, charity, and law. It also highlights key sources and the challenges of preserving old verses and prose, offering a clear map of English beggar lore for readers new to the subject and for specialists alike.
- How the beggar appears in ballads, songs, and prose across centuries
- How social laws, town life, and charity shaped mendicant figures
- Major works and collections that document beggar poetry and storytelling
- Representative tales and famous ballads, plus the cultural impact on later writers
Ideal for readers of English literature history, ballad studies, and cultural history alike.