Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787): A Comment upon the History of Tom Thumb, 1711, by William: Wagstaffe; the Knave of Hearts, 1787, by George Canning

Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787) is a collection of satirical critiques by William Wagstaffe and George Canning, focusing on the ballad poetry of the early 18th century. Wagstaffe's 'A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb' humorously elevates a nursery tale, while Canning's 'The Knave of Hearts' employs mock epic conventions to critique the reception of simple ballads as high art. This work highlights the cultural tensions between traditional ballads and emerging Romantic aesthetics during a transformative period in English literature.