Liz Williams
Reaktion Books
16 April 2025
336
eBook - PDF
Non-Fiction
ARC via Edelweiss
Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest, and public shaming. She also addresses alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival. The interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides, is also examined. Finally, Rough Music looks at folklore’s evolution in the digital age, highlighting new developments such as ghost bikes. This engaging book offers an entertaining yet rigorous look at British folklore and culture.
Rough Music was an interesting and entertaining read. Some of the customs and their history I was familiar with, but others were new to me. The interviews with current practitioners of the different activities were a nice addition and added a more personal feel to what might otherwise have seemed an academic text. The book offered a nice balance overall between historical overview and commentary on current practice and the changes that have taken place over the years. Definitely worth a read for those interested in British folk customs. I am giving it four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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