"Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England" is a truly remarkable collection of traditional English folk songs and poetry. The book offers readers a window into the lives and beliefs of the rural working class in England, providing a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and history.

The poems and ballads included in this collection are beautifully written and offer a glimpse into the joys, sorrows, and everyday experiences of the peasantry. The themes range from love and loss to nature and the supernatural, capturing the essence of a bygone era.

The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in traditional English folklore and literature. It is a testament to the enduring power of oral tradition and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

Overall, "Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and richness of traditional English poetry and song. It is a treasure trove of stories and melodies that will enchant readers of all ages.

Book Description:
This traditional, and, for the most part, unprinted literature,—cherished in remote villages, resisting everywhere the invasion of modern namby-pamby verse and jaunty melody, and possessing, in an historical point of view, especial value as a faithful record of the feeling, usages, and modes of life of the rural population,—had been almost wholly passed over amongst the antiquarian revivals which constitute one of the distinguishing features of the present age. While attention was successfully drawn to other forms of our early poetry, this peasant minstrelsy was scarcely touched, and might be considered unexplored ground. There was great difficulty in collecting materials which lay scattered so widely, and which could be procured in their genuine simplicity only from the people amongst whom they originated, and with whom they are as ‘familiar as household words.’ - Summary by Robert Bell