Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3)

"Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3)" by Percy and Wheatley is a collection of ballads published in 1765. Bishop Thomas Percy rescued ancient manuscripts from destruction and gathered traditional songs including "Sir Patrick Spens" and "The Ballad of Chevy Chase." Though Percy's editing methods drew criticism, his work captured public imagination and helped transform 18th-century literature from Neo-Classicism toward Romanticism. The collection inspired poets like Coleridge and Wordsworth, sparked folklore movements across Europe, and made ballad collecting a popular pursuit throughout the Western world.

Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 1 (of 3), from the public domain. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #45939.