Written to disprove the accusation against Sir Walter Scott-that he helped to compose, and issued as a genuine antique, a ballad, "Auld Maitland." The facts in the case exist in published works and certain manuscript letters, which are here studied.

Contents:

Preface

Scott And The Ballads

Auld Maitland

The Ballad Of Otterburne

Scott's Traditional Copy And How He Edited It

The Mystery Of The Ballad Of Jamie Telfer

Kinmont Willie

Conclusions

This book is annotated with a rare extensive biographical sketch of the author, Andrew Lang, written by Sir Edmund Gosse, CB, a contemporary poet and writer.