Caveat Folkloristor.

This is an interesting little book, but it isn't really what it says it is. It is not a collection of folktales. Rather, it is a collection of folk ballads -- sometimes retold as prose, sometimes not.

It is certainly true that the "border ballads" contain much border history, and illustrate the feelings of the borderers. They would have an important place in any collection of folklore. But they aren't the whole story. And, besides, they can be found in all their true glory in works such as F. J. Child's The English and Scottish Popular Ballads.

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't buy this book. If you don't know much border history, and don't want to deal with archaic English or Braid Scots, this book may have much to offer you. It's a gentle introduction to a big topic. But if you like the subject, be prepared to move on to bigger, broader -- and tougher -- things. ( )