Street Ballads in Nineteenth-Century Britain, Ireland, and North America

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The book explores the evolving understanding of traditional songs, highlighting the significant role of 'street literature' in their origins. It reveals that many traditional singers often learned from printed materials and that professional writers were behind most compositions. By examining the interplay between street literature and oral traditions, the volume contributes to the ongoing debate about the true sources of these songs, challenging the notion that they solely stem from an oral tradition.