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February 19, 2026
Old Songs by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns review
These interconnected short stories of love and death, inspired by traditional ballads from the British Isles, are narrated with immediacy and warmth
TL;DR
- The book 'Old Songs' retells short stories inspired by traditional ballads from the British Isles.
- Tales include themes of sibling murder, infanticide, kidnapping, abandonment, and magical curses, as exemplified by the story of Janet and Tam Lin.
- Author Amy Jeffs, an art historian, provides warmth and analysis of each ballad's historical and literary evolution.
- The audio edition features musical excerpts by Natalie Brice and illustrations by Gwen Burns.
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