Jules Horne visits Kelso Library

Jules Horne visits Kelso Library

Jules Horne is a freelance writer and teacher, working with the Traverse Theatre Young Writers and as associate lecturer for the Open University. Jules came to Kelso Library to give a talk to Friends of Kelso Library entitled The Art and Drama of Border Ballads.

Drawing on her experiences as a writer, Jules demonstrated how the oral poets of the Border ballads instinctively used the same dramatic techniques described by Aristotle, the 4th century BC Greek philosopher, in his Poetics. When Sir Walter Scott decided to write these performed works down, James Hogg’s mother told him 'You hae spoilt them a the gither. They were made for singing and no for reading, but ye hae broken the charm now, and they'll never be sung mair'.

Giving an example of words instigating thoughts, Jules described cutting in to a lemon and seeing the juice running out – I am sure everyone’s mouth was watering – a definite gin and tonic moment. Radio, she told us, has the highest number of complaints about explicit episodes – demonstrating how people's imaginations work when words are heard.

Jules read some striking passages from some of the Border Ballads – just picture this scene from the Twa Corbies:
Ye’ll sit on his white hause bane
And I’ll pick out his bonny blue een;

Stirring images indeed!

Jules ably answered questions and a lively discussion was held re ballads, modern day pop songs and other subjects.

Friends of Kelso Library are very grateful to Jules for her very enlightening talk on the Art and Drama of Border Ballads.