Thomas Hardys "Far From The Madding Crowd"... in which it gives an insight into how Folk music was in the 18th-19thc in the UK... where the farm labourers would all gather in the barn after the harvest and sup copious amounts of ale and ALL... even the tone deaf.. were expected to sing about whatever was happening or a fantasy of some sort. The film was great but I nevr really got round to the book ... which I am assured is ten times better than the film.
Best wishes, Mike.