This critical edition of Scott’s Minstrelsy presents a seminal 19th-century work for a 21st-century audience
The third volume in this three volume set fully contextualises the Minstrelsy in discussing the 1830 edition. It includes an introductory essay on popular poetry and on various collections of
ballads of Britain, particularly those of Scotland, and an essay on the ancient ballad. This volume places Scott’s Minstrelsy text within the broad framework of traditional ballad studies and
contemporary compositions. The ballads are printed in full (with music where available) from MS 877, MS 893 and other manuscripts, chap-books, letters and books available to Scott with
contextual commentary provided for each ballad as appropriate. The first part of the commentary comprises a literary discussion of Scott’s choice of text followed by a discussion of oral
traditions, including the singer and the Sitz-im-Leben.
