A very well-researched book, with a map of the border lands of England and Lowland Scotland as well as what historical facts exist for the ballads. And the pictures! Just makes me want to get my hiking boots and backpack and head out there. Lovely rolling hills and lots of mist.

This is a book about a specific sort of ballad, from the days of the reivers" along the Scottish/English border from 1500's-1603 (when James I assumed the crown of both realms). The main way of living was farming and herding cattle, and then going on raids across the borders to steal a neighbor's cattle and horses. Not a gentle time, and the ballads give many details about the raids. Marsden has done an amazing amount of research into who the people were who were mentioned in the ballads. Were they farmers? Were they raiders? Were they the border government who either benefitted from or hung the raiders? There is a lot of history in this region, and bringing out the ballads that documented it and kept many of these names and events alive is a remarkable feat." ( )