Epic Singers and Oral Tradition

This book provides an in-depth look at the practices and art of epic singers across various cultures, showcasing Albert Bates Lord's extensive research.

In Epic Singers and Oral Tradition, Albert Bates Lord draws on his extensive fieldwork in living oral traditions to focus on the art of epic singers. Through a deep exploration of texts and performances, Lord presents an unparalleled overview of the nature of oral-traditional epic songs and the practices of the singers who create them. His essays, spanning half a century of research, reflect a commitment to grounding theory in the actual practices of singers, both past and present.

The collection includes thirteen essays, some of which are previously unpublished, all revised for publication. Lord delves into themes of composition, transmittal, and interpretation, while raising significant comparative issues. He discusses various aspects of the Homeric poems, South Slavic oral-traditional epics, and notable works such as Beowulf and the medieval Greek Digenis Akritas. Each chapter highlights the complexity and richness of oral traditions across different cultures, from central Asiatic and Balkan epics to the Finnish Kalevala and Bulgarian oral epics.

As one of the most respected scholars in the field, Lord's work in Epic Singers and Oral Tradition serves as an invaluable resource for a wide audience. It is essential reading for scholars and students of myth and folklore, classicists, medievalists, Slavists, comparatists, literary theorists, and anthropologists, enriching their understanding of the enduring legacy of oral traditions.