Books by Roy Palmer

This wide-ranging survey, part-anthology, part-social history provides a unique study of popular song. These popular songs tell us of life's pleasures and pains from the cradle to the grave, of work and play, sport and sex, loving and leaving, the town and the country .

Roy Palmer has brought together songs and ballads from the period 1750 to 1900, and interspersed them with the writings (from letters, memoirs etc) of many soldiers, as well as contemporary prints and photographs, to give a vivid account of life in the lower ranks at this time.