Thomas Percy, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry

Nick Groom (University of Exeter)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1765

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poem collection

Resources

Popularly called “Percy’s Reliques”, after its editor, Thomas Percy [see separate entry], Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1765) is a three-volume collection of traditional English ballads, popular songs and poetry, and historical verse, dating from the Middle Ages to the mid-eighteenth century. There are traditional ballads included such as “Chevy-Chase”, “Sir Patrick Spence”, and “The Not-browne Mayd”, songs from Shakespeare, translations from the Moorish, Scottish songs, as well as recent political verses such as “Admiral Hosier’s Ghost” and “Lilli-burlero” (as whistled persistently by uncle Toby in Tristram Shandy).

Percy’s Reliques is a pivotal text, marking the …

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1706 words

Citation: Groom, Nick. "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 March 2003 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=2420, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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