This classic collection is a discussion of songs that gave utterance to the opinions and feelings of an important part of the Irish people in political, social, and religious feelings. First published in 1966, this is a new edition with corrections and additional notes. The songs, which were within the reach of all strands of society, were not only an expression of the singers' and listeners' feelings or opinions but also a form of propaganda. And when printers invested in them with the production of broadsheets and booklets, they became an industry. Thus, as the author states in his introduction, 'they are a curious melting pot for different kinds of literature or sub-literature'.
Professor Zimmermann, now retired, taught in Swiss universities. He is the author of The Irish storyteller (2001) and has also written extensively on Yeats, Walter Scott, and the short story.
