This study seeks to demonstrate that throughout centuries of re-creation, linguistic devices have been used to support both the production and the reproduction of the romances. On the basis of this demonstration, it is argued that it is time to recognize these devices as evaluators and to include a discussion of evaluative mechanisms in the study of the Romancero tradition.

This book, first published in 1969, explores two chap-books from Spain. Mr Norton and Professor Wilson provide a substantial introduction on their literary or bibliographical importance, and a supplementary checklist of Spanish chap-books before 1521. Students of folk-literature will find this interesting.