Oskar Cox Jensen is a Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia. He is the author of Napoleon and British Song, 1797–1822 (2015), co-editor of Charles Dibdin and Late Georgian Culture (2018) and a special forum of Journal of British Studies: 'Music and Politics in Britain' (2021), and author of numerous book chapters and articles in journals including Studies in Romanticism.

'There are many books about the British ballad, but this one is different. It's about the men, women and children whose voices made ballads happen. Often despised, frequently ridiculed, these hardy performers now have a champion in Oskar Cox Jensen. He has revealed a human story that is both richly researched and deeply moving.' Roger Parker, King's College London

• List of Figures; List of Musical Examples; List of Recordings; List of Tables; Acknowledgements; Note on the Text; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Representations: Seeing the Singer; Interlude I. 'Oh! Cruel'; 2. Progress: Ancient Custom in the Modern City; Interlude II. 'Lord Viscount Maidstone's Address'; 3. Performance: The Singer in Action; Interlude III. 'The Storm'; 4. Repertoire: Navigating the Mainstream; Interlude IV. 'Old Dog Tray'; Conclusion; Bibliography.

Oskar Cox Jensen is a Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia. He is the author of Napoleon and British Song, 1797–1822 (2015), co-editor of Charles Dibdin and Late Georgian Culture (2018) and a special forum of Journal of British Studies: 'Music and Politics in Britain' (2021), and author of numerous book chapters and articles in journals including Studies in Romanticism.

'There are many books about the British ballad, but this one is different. It's about the men, women and children whose voices made ballads happen. Often despised, frequently ridiculed, these hardy performers now have a champion in Oskar Cox Jensen. He has revealed a human story that is both richly researched and deeply moving.' Roger Parker, King's College London

• List of Figures; List of Musical Examples; List of Recordings; List of Tables; Acknowledgements; Note on the Text; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Representations: Seeing the Singer; Interlude I. 'Oh! Cruel'; 2. Progress: Ancient Custom in the Modern City; Interlude II. 'Lord Viscount Maidstone's Address'; 3. Performance: The Singer in Action; Interlude III. 'The Storm'; 4. Repertoire: Navigating the Mainstream; Interlude IV. 'Old Dog Tray'; Conclusion; Bibliography.