The Flowering Thorn attempts to illustrate the broad range of topics within the field of ballad studies. These topics are
multidisciplinary in nature using folklore, history, literary, and ethnological sources as well as a variety of different methodologies based upon various theoretical backgrounds. In order to connect all of these topics, a very broad definition of a ballad has been adopted, simply a
narrative song. These narrative songs may appear fragmented or may be quite complex. They may also contain symbolic imagery pertaining to culture specific norms and ideology. This book is organized into five sections or themes: interpreting narrative song; structure and motif; context, version, and transmission; regions, reprints, and repertoires; and the mediating collector. Each section contains from one to seven short articles. Each article is written by a researcher who discusses their personal
research or their research methodologies. Most of the articles contain various ballad fragments (in English or the native language). Many of the authors compare ballads or versions of the same ballad to better illustrate their points. It is of note that the book is strongly biased towards European authors. This is somewhat expected for two reasons. Firstly, ballads are a distinct European song form. Secondly, narrative songs have been commonly studied in Europe, specifically in the British Isles, since the turn of the last century. The first section, Now She''s Fairly Altered Her Meaning, contains various articles looking specifically at the culture specific symbolic and social inferences embedded in ballads. Most noticeably the research in this section focuses on one''s place in society and the reinforcement of this proper place and behavior. The second section, Malign Forces that Can Punish and Pardon, discusses the structure and motif of ballads. The first two articles focus on the variable structure and nature of ballads; while the last two articles examine cross-cultural themes of proper conduct in narrative songs. The third section, Recapturing the Journey, uses historical methods to examine how ballads change over time and absorbed by other cultures. In each article, versions of the same or similar ballads are explored for similarity and differences. The fourth section, Regions, Reprints, and Repertoires, furthers this work; however, these articles focus on the methods with which ballads are transmitted across time and space. Purement Scientifique et Archeoloique, the final section, looks to extend ballad studies beyond its current range. The articles in this section applaud the accomplishments of amateur scholars and call for further professional examination in these new areas.In this way, McKean illustrates the range and multidisciplinary nature of modern ballad studies. This creates a good general text for students and beginner researchers. Furthermore, many of the articles provide some very good references for further reading. Nonetheless, this book will also be of use to those already undertaking their own ballad research. The researcher will be drawn to specific sections or articles that match his or her interests; however, he or she will also undoubtedly uncover new lines of thought and methodologies to use in his or her own studies within the rest of the volume.