THE IDIOM OF THE PEOPLE - ENGLISH TRADITIONAL VERSE FROM THE MSS OF CECIL SHARP [Second corrected edition]

James Reeves

Published by William Heinemann Ltd., London, 1958

Second edition - reprinted with corrections. With four photographic plates showing facsimiles from the Cecil Sharp mss of folk-songs. Index of 115 songs. Edited with an introduction and notes from the manuscripts of Cecil J. Sharp. ***Near fine in blue cloth-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine. The boards are clean and unmarked, and the gilt is still nice and bright, having been protected by the dustwrapper. Head of spine and top edge of back board near the spine slightly creased. Corners sharp. Top edge of page block stained red by the publisher. Internally also near fine with no inscriptions or annotations. Three contemporary newspaper reviews of "The Idiom of The People" have been loosely inserted, and this has caused some offsetting to the relevant pages. Spine tight. ***In a very good colour printed dustwrapper, which has not been price-clipped, retaining the original publisher's printed price of 21s net. The dustwrapper is virtually complete, with just minimal loss at the top of the spine. The dustwrapper is slightly rubbed and creased at the edges. There is a one inch closed tear to the top edge of the front panel near to the spine. There is also a half-inch closed tear and associated creasing at the bottom outer corner edge of the back panel. Corners of dustwrapper have very slight rubbing. There is some browning to the front panel and spine of the dustwrapper. Red lettering and ruling designs bright. ***244 pages including appendix and index of first lines. 222 mm x 150 mm. ***'The great movement for folk-song collecting which in England culminated in the work of Cecil Sharp was mainly musical in character. In the process of transcribing traditional melodies from the lips of country people, Sharp collected also a mass of traditional poetry. Most of this has never before appeared in the form in which it was taken down, since the requirements of public taste in Sharp's lifetime involved drastic revision and re-writing of the words.---James Reeves has made a thorough study of Sharp's manuscripts, and has chosen one hundred and fifteen sets of folk-song words for publication, annotation and textual comment. These are of remarkable beauty, vigour and freshness, and will provide a meeting-ground for the scholar and the general reader, while being of the greatest interest to students of ballad poetry. It may, the editor believes, form the beginning of a future comprehensive collection of authentic traditional verse. ***In addition to the texts and accompanying editorial matter, there is a long introduction dealing with Cecil Sharp's position as a folk-song collector and editor, with the revision and expurgation of oral poetry, and with certain well-known folk-poems of especial interest of which no genuine texts have hitherto been available.' [Quote taken from the front flap of the dustwrapper] ***A nice copy of the second corrected edition of this fascinating study, of great interest to those who are studying the work of Cecil J. Sharp and English folk music. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. Seller Inventory # 1595x

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE IDIOM OF THE PEOPLE - ENGLISH ...
Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd., London
Publication Date: 1958
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Near Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
Edition: Second Edition