The Captain's Apprentice: Ralph Vaughan Williams and the Story of a Folk Song

Available
4.9/5.0
21,000+ Reviews
Bookshop.org has the highest-rated customer service of any bookstore in the world

Description

***WINNER OF THE NEW ANGLE PRIZE FOR LITERATURE***
***WINNER OF THE HWA NON-FICTION AWARD***


A beautifully written exploration of the world of Edwardian folk music, and its influence on the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams

In January 1905 the young Vaughan Williams, not yet one of England's most famous composers, visited Norfolk to find folk songs 'from the mouths of the singers'. An old fisherman, James 'Duggie' Carter, performed 'The Captain's Apprentice', a brutal tale of torture sung to the most beautiful tune the young composer had ever heard.

With this transformational moment at its heart, the book traces the contrasting lives of the well-to-do composer and a forgotten cabin boy who died at sea, and brings fresh perspectives on folk-song collectors, the singers and their songs.

***AS READ ON BBC RADIO 4***

'A quirky, fascinating read. Davison excels in evoking English landscapes' Sunday Times

'Animated, entertaining... Presenting a richly complex picture of a subject that can all too easily be shrouded in a sentimental haze' Daily Telegraph

Product Details

Price
£10.99  £10.44
Publisher
Vintage Publishing
Publish Date
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781529115109
BIC Categories:

Earn By Promoting Books

Earn money by sharing your favourite books through our Affiliate programme.

Become an Affiliate