Czech Broadside Ballads as Text, Art, Song in Popular Culture, c.1600–1900

The Czech Republic's collection of over 100,000 Central/Eastern European broadside ballads from the 16th to the 19th century is a significant contribution to the field of broadside ballad study, offering insights into their production, collecting, musicology, linguistics, preservation, and international impact.

Format: Hardback
Length: 498 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2022
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

This landmark collection, comprising over 100,000 Central/Eastern European broadside ballads from the 16th to the 19th century, significantly contributes to the burgeoning field of broadside ballad study. By examining these ballads from an interdisciplinary perspective, we gain a deeper understanding of their unique and regional cultural significance. From their production and collecting processes to their musicology, linguistics, preservation, and more, Czech broadside ballads stand out as exceptional and integral to the broader world of balladry. However, when viewed within a broader context, encompassing ballad production in bordering lands such as Germany, Poland, and Slovakia, as well as as far Northwest as Britain and as far Southwest as Brazil, we uncover an international phenomenon at work. Czech printed ballads were part of a vibrant popular culture that used text, art, and song to resonate with the diverse interests of the masses, particularly the poor, across the globe. This collection offers a rich tapestry of cultural expressions and historical narratives, shedding light on the enduring appeal of broadside ballads and their role in shaping cultural identity and heritage.

Weight: 896g
Dimension: 161 x 241 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789463721554