Bibliography
Sabine Baring-Gould was an astonishingly prolific writer on a vast range of topics. The late Roger Bristow worked on his bibliography for several years and the final version of his list of Baring-Gould’s own publications now includes more than 1,400 titles. If you are keen to obtain the fullest possible listing you should contact:
martin.graebe@btinternet.com
Books about Devon and Cornwall
A Book of the West – Volume 1: Devon
A mixture of geography, history and tall tales woven into an entertaining tour of Devonshire. Methuen & Co, 1899. (republished in 1903 as ‘A book of Devon’)
A Book of the West – Volume 2: Cornwall
A similar mixture to the above, but dealing with Saints and Smugglers and other aspects of Cornish geography and folk history. Methuen & Co, 1899
A Book of Dartmoor
Similar in style to the Book of the West but focused on Dartmoor and covering S B-G’s archaeological adventures and theories in some detail. Methuen & Co, 1900
Devonshire Characters and Strange Events
A remarkable collection of stories and historical sketches on a wide range of topics related to Devon and to some of its notable inhabitants. J Lane, 1908
Cornish Characters and Strange Events
As above, this time for Cornwall. J Lane, 1909
Devon (A Methuen’s ‘Little Guide’)
A conventional guide-book with occasional flashes of authentic Baring-Gould. Methuen & Co, 1907 (remained in print until 1949).
Other books I like:
Old Country Life
A picture of country life in the second half of the nineteenth century through Baring-Gould’s eyes. A very enjoyable book that includes chapters on folk song and on village music. Methuen & Co, 1889
An Old English Home
Describes the growth of English houses great and small and the families that lived in them. Methuen & Co, 1898
Folk Song Collections
Songs of the West (with H. Fleetwood Sheppard)
The first collection of folk songs published by Baring-Gould selected from those collected from the mouths of the people of Devon and Cornwall. Arrangements by the musical editor, Henry Fleetwood Sheppard and Baring-Gould’s other collaborator, Frederick Bussell. Comprehensive notes on the songs and their background are included. First published by Patey and Willis and Methuen & Co. in 4 parts 1889-91. Republished in one volume by Methuen & Co 1891. Completely revised edition (with Cecil Sharp as musical editor) published by Methuen & Co., 1905.
A Garland of Country Songs (with H. Fleetwood Sheppard)
Baring-Gould and Sheppard’s second collection brought in songs from other parts of England. Methuen and Co, 1895
English Minstrelsie (8 volumes) (with H. Fleetwood Sheppard and F.W. Bussell)
A collection of English song which includes art and popular song as well as some folk songs. Wonderfully illustrated and with copious notes and essays, including one on folk song. TC & JC Jack, 1895
English Folk Songs for Schools (with Cecil Sharp)
Written with Cecil Sharp, a collection of songs intended to instil a love of English song in children. J Curwen, 1906
Biographies of Sabine Baring-Gould
‘Early Reminiscences’ and ‘Further Reminiscences’ by Sabine Baring-Gould (1923 and 1925)
Baring-Gould’s two volumes of autobiography – the third was written but never published. These books tell us a lot and reveals very little. Both volumes are a ‘good read’ and there is an excellent chapter on Folk Song in ‘Further Reminiscences’. Published by John Lane, The Bodley Head Ltd.
‘Onward Christian Soldier’ by W E Purcell (1957)
The first biography of Baring-Gould and contains a charming preface by John Betjeman who was a fan of Baring-Gould. Longmans, Green and Co, London.
Lew House, Lew Trenchard Church and Baring-Gould, by S. Gordon Monk (1961)
This is a small book that is, nevertheless, packed with information about the house, the church and the family. One of its most useful features is the provision of detailed family trees. Plymouth: Clark, Doble.
‘Sabine Baring-Gould’ by Bickford HC Dickinson (1970)
As his Grandson you would expect Dickinson to have had access to family papers. Unfortunately, because Lew Manor was tenanted during the years in which this book was written this was not the case as he could not get access to them. This is, nonetheless, the definitive biography. David and Charles, Newton Abbot,.
‘The Mana of Lew’ by Cicely Briggs (1993)
The author was one of Baring-Gould’s granddaughters who, at the time the book was written, was running the Lewtrenchard Manor Hotel. This little book is a very personal account of the family with some interesting information not found elsewhere. Praxis Books.
‘Now The Day Is Over’ by Harold Kirk-Smith (1997)
This biography, published in 1997, does shed a little extra light on Baring-Gould, but does not make use of the more recently discovered material. Richard Kay. Boston (Lincs).
‘Half My Life – The Story of Sabine Baring-Gould and Grace’ by Keith Lister (2002)
This book is focused on the ‘Yorkshire end’ of the story. Keith Lister lives in Horbury and was fascinated by Sabine’s time there and by his relationship with Grace Taylor which led to his long marriage. Charnwood Publications.
‘Never Completely Submerged’ by Ron Wawman (2009)
The subtitle of this book is ‘The sory of the Squarson of Lewtrenchard as revealed in the Diary of Sabine Baring-Gould’. The main part of this book is a transcription of the diary that Baring-Gould kept between 1880 and 1899. It is supplemented with extensive and interesting notes, maps, lists and other useful material. Published by Grosvenor House Publishing, Guildford, 2009
Note – There is even more material on Ron’s website (www.nevercompletelysubmerged.co.uk) including collections of letters and biographical articles.
‘Sabine Baring-Gould, The Life and Work of a Complete Victorian’, by J. E. Thomas (2015)
A general biography of Baring-Gould which takes advantage of the additional information discovered in recent years. Published by Fonthill.
‘Sabine Baring-Gould, The Man Who Told a Thousand Stories’, by Rebecca Tope (2017)
A chatty biography by the novelist Rebecca Tope who has been a Baring-Gould enthusiast for many years. This book is the result of many hours of work studying primary material and interpreting it for the general reader. Praxis Books.
As I Walked Out, Sabine Baring-Gould and the Search for Folksongs in Devon and Cornwall’ by Martin Graebe (2017)
It would be disingenuous to leave my own book out of this list. Though the book is centred on Baring-Gould’s folk song collection it is the result of research into primary sources that have not been looked at by other writers and some interesting new biographical material. It also looks at the large number of other people involved in the project including his co-workers and the singers. Signal Books.