Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border (Restored Classics to Go Edition)

Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border gathers the haunted music of Scotland's southern counties, where old legend, local history, and romantic invention meet. Its opening pieces move from treachery and rightful restoration in "Fause Foodrage" to the eerie enchantment of "Kempion," a tale of a knight who must break a curse by kissing a monstrous creature three times until she is revealed as a bewitched lady. The notes enrich these ballads with border lore, archaic language, and comparisons to Scandinavian and Italian romance, showing how ancient narrative forms survive and change. The volume also ranges through dragon-slaying traditions, from the Sockburn sword and the Worm of Linton to family memories of heroic deliverance, while "The War-Wolf" explores the darker idea of human transformation into beast. Later, Thomas the Rhymer's prophetic song of Sir Tristrem and Isolde rises from Arthurian splendour into tragic farewell and supernatural destiny, and "Smaylho'm" unfolds a tense border mystery of wounded honor, secret meetings, and forbidden love. Throughout, the collection preserves a world of chivalry, prophecy, sorcery, and enduring song. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.