Ballads, Founded on Anecdotes Relating to Animals

Name: Ballads, Founded on Anecdotes Relating to Animals
Author: William Hayley

By William Hayley

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Children & Young Adult Reading Poetry

About This Book

A series of short narrative poems presents animal-centered anecdotes that illuminate human behavior and ethical lessons. Each ballad pairs vivid natural detail with a moralizing situation — examples include canine fidelity, a horse's fatal betrayal, and courageous human confrontation with a lion — and explores themes of loyalty, gratitude, cruelty, and retribution. Composed in an accessible ballad style and accompanied by engraved illustrations, the pieces aim at younger readers and blend storytelling with didactic commentary on character and conduct.

About the Author

William Hayley

William Hayley was an English poet and biographer, active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for his works that blend personal reflection with themes of nature and morality. His notable titles include "Ballads, Founded on Anecdotes Relating to Animals," which showcases his ability to weave storytelling with moral lessons, and "The Eulogies of Howard: A Vision," a tribute to the humanitarian efforts of John Howard. Hayley's poetry often reflects his deep sensitivity to the human condition and the natural world, contributing to the literary heritage of his time.