The ballad is probably the most intensely dramatic of all poetic forms and its appeal has proved to be especially enduring. In this anthology of the traditional ballads of England and Scotland, the material is grouped according to theme and mood and covers the whole range of the genre. It includes romances, biblical ballads, magic tales and a miscellany of literary and historical ballads including the "riding ballads" of the Scottish border. The author has consulted manuscripts and early printed sources in the pursuit of authenticity and is careful to avoid the amended or elaborate versions which are often presented as authentic. The collection includes such favourites as "Tam Lin" and "The Bonny Earl of Murray" among its 150 ballads, 80 of which are accompanied by their tune and explanatory notes.