The rose & the briar : death, love and liberty in the American ballad

Wilentz, Sean. (Added Author). Marcus, Greil. (Added Author).

Summary: The ballad has been part of American history since before the country had a name. In this book, the editors have assembled an astonishing group of writers and artists--novelists, essayists, performers, and critics--to explore the ineffable power of the American ballad. In words and in drawings, the collaborators have tapped the veins of America's most imaginative and expressive form. From "Barbara Allen," one of the earliest, through "The Wreck of the Old 97," to contemporary ballads by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, The Rose & the Briar presents a rich new patch of art and commentary--like the ballads, no two the same, but all of a piece, about stories, storytellers, and American death, love, and liberty.--Publisher

Record details

ISBN: 9780393328257 (pbk.)
ISBN: 0393328252 (pbk.)
ISBN: 9780393059540 (hardcover)
ISBN: 0393059545 (hardcover)
Physical Description: viii, 405 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
print
Edition: Norton paperback
Publisher: New York : W.W. Norton, 2006, c2005.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references, discographies, and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Barbara Allen / D. Marsh -- The water is wide / A. Powers -- Pretty Polly / R. Sparks -- Music, when soft voices die / S. McCrumb -- Naomie Wise, 1807 / A. Domino -- John Brown's body / S. Vowell -- When you go a courtin' / R. Crumb -- Little maggiea mystery / J.C. Oates -- We did them wrong: the ballad of Frankie and Albert / C. Brown -- The sad song of Delia Green and Cooney Houston / S. Wilentz -- Destiny in my right hand: The wreck of old 97 and Dead man's curve / D. Thomas -- I thought I heard Buddy Bolden say / L. Sante -- See Willy fly by and The cuckoo / J. Langford -- Mariachi reverie / P. Berman -- The foggy, foggy dew / J. Rockwell -- Come Sunday / S. Crouch -- El Paso / J. Miller -- Trial of Mary Maguire / E. Ward -- Love, lore, celebrity, and dead babies : Dolly Parton's Down from Dover / E. Weisbard -- Sail away and Louisiana 1927 / S. Erickson -- Dancing with Dylan / W. Lesser -- Nebraska / H. Hampton -- Blackwatertown / P. Muldoon -- Envoi / G. Marcus.