This book began, as the author says, as "lecture notes that got out of hand"--originally notes intended to provide historical context for presenting the famous ballad about the death of the earl of Moray. It now includes a life of Moray, a discussion of the feud that led to and flowed from his death and the complications at the court of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England), a discussion of the meaning of the ballad in its own time and its literary significance now. I have long loved this ballad, and was glad to learn more about his historical background. ( )