The traditional dances of Merrie England, thatonce earned us the name of 'the dancing English', were all but lost under the soot and grime of theIndustrial Revolution. Only the devoted laboursand patient research of Cecil Sharp saved themfrom extinction: Here and there in quiet cornersof the countryside he found old men who stillremembered the delightful dances of their youth, and this 'timely salvage', as Maud Karpeles calls it, resulted in the folkdance revival that is at once hishandiwork and his memorial.In Wales, too, time has wrought ill with the folktraditions. The music of the crwth is heard, alas, no more, but the Welsh dances are being revived, and can now be seen in their traditional setting atthe Eisteddfodau and in the country villages.Miss Karpeles, who worked with Sharp formany years and who is Honorary Secretary ofthe International Folk Music Council, writeswith authority on English folk dancing, Mrs.Blake is President of the Welsh Folk DnaceSociety. Detailed descriptions (with music) offour selected dances, and four costume plates infull colour make this book one that will gladdenthe heart of all who love the dance and thecountryside.