“This recommendation was hand-selected by The Gwenin Exchange team for its alignment with Gwenin’s values of clarity, accessibility, and mindful living.”

At The Gwenin Exchange, we often talk about connection to the land, to one another, and to the stories that shaped us. Old Songs: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns is a masterpiece of that very connection: a bridge between memory and myth, art and history, past and present.

This book is an enchanting reimagining of Britain’s traditional ballads, where folklore, poetry, and history intertwine. Through ten tales, we meet elf queens and bewitched poets, lost lovers, dragon-brothers, and ghostly ships. Each story is both intimate and epic, revealing the deep pulse of wonder, sorrow, and beauty that has long haunted these islands.

Jeff’s storytelling and Burns’ exquisite illustrations together create more than a book; they create a living songbook of culture, echoing with the voices of generations who once sang to make sense of love, loss, and the wild unknown.

Why we love it:

This collection feels like a meditation in mythic form, grounding us in the timeless rhythm of human emotion. Each page invites reflection on how our stories shape belonging, identity, and imagination, all things The Gwenin Exchange holds dear.

Perfect for:

• Lovers of folklore, mythology, and poetic storytelling
• Anyone drawn to the spirit of the land and its layered histories
• Readers seeking beauty, depth, and quiet enchantment

 “At the base of hills we can visit to this day, elf queens kidnap poets and carry them through rivers of blood…”

Authors: Amy Jeffs & Gwen Burns
Publisher: Riverrun
Publication Date: 25 September 2025
Format: Hardback
Themes: Folklore, love, death, myth, British landscape, art & storytelling

In Old Songs, the past sings again, reminding us that stories, like roots, grow deeper the more we listen.

Read it here: Old Songs

Thank You

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With gratitude,
The Gwenin Exchange Team

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