The Cumberland Bard

LONGLISTED for LAKELAND BOOK OF YEAR 2020
Together with a facsimile copy of the 1828 ‘Ballads in the Cumberland Dialect’.

Robert Anderson of Carlisle was the most prolific of the ‘multiplication of dialect versifiers’ to be found in Cumberland in the nineteenth century. Popularly known as ‘The Cumberland Bard’, he was born into poverty and he had little formal education. Nonetheless, he went on to publish a collection of poetry in standard English and popular editions of Cumberland Ballads in dialect.

Sue Allan explores Anderson’s life and works and the insights he gives into life in north Cumberland at the beginning of the nineteenth century. His legacy includes songs written for London audiences and dialect ballads which have entered the folk tradition. The 1828 edition of ‘Ballads in the Cumberland Dialect’ is published here in facsimile. It is the first time Anderson has been in p[rint for well over 100 years.

Sue Allan was born and bred in Cumbria. She researches and writes on the social history and folk music of the county, and is well-known as a performer of its songs, tunes and dances.