Vargyas Lajos: Researches into the mediaeval history of folk ballad (Budapest, 1967)

RESEARCHES INTO THE MEDIAEVAL HISTORY OF FOLK BALLAD Based on thorough comparative studies in the history, and even prehistory, of the Hungarian folk ballad, the author reveals intri­cate interrelations concerning European balladry and proves that among the Hungarian types there exists a group with French origin. To support this point, he had to differentiate between Ger­man, English—American, Scan­dinavian, etc. versions, and so to define the French—Hungarian ones. The setting of East-Euro­­pean variants related to the Hun­garian types in the focus of com­parative study has considerably furthered the scope of ballad research. A study of the Siberian epics helped to disclose, through analysis of their archaic, mythic forms, interesting relics of thou­sand-year-old Hungarian heroic songs still surviving in some Hun­garian ballads. The book pro­vides new results concerning the theoretical aspects of European folk ballads in general. AKADÉMIAI KIADÓ Publishing House of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest L. VARGYAS

Next