The Balladists

"The Balladists" by John Geddie is an exploration of Scottish ballads from the late 1800s, connecting their beauty and distinctive qualities to their place in history and Scottish culture. Geddie shines a light on the anonymous poets who shaped this oral tradition. From the very first pages, Geddie introduces what Scottish balladry is all about, paying close attention to its defining features, development, and past. He draws attention to the mysterious, often nameless, balladists and explains how their songs echoed the feelings and lives of the people who created them. According to Geddie, these old songs touch on such lasting themes as love, sadness, and the world beyond, demonstrating that their power comes from how they link generations through spoken stories and shared culture.