Greetings good people-

I am busy working on a book concerning Eccentricity in the songs of Newcastle and the North East of UK.

Working on the analysis of the tradition section I have found

Gregory, James, "Local Characters" : Eccentricity and the North-East in the Nineteenth Century," In: Northern History, XLII: 1, march, 2005.

I have a good grip on the earlier materials but does anyone know of anything of interest that has come out later?

I am coming to the conclusion that the inclusion of eccentrics and eccentricity was not a special emphasis of song writers nor was it particularly meaningful as an inclusion or unique- people are still doing it today I myself am included in the book Weird Maryland after all.

On the level of meaning, rather than of inclusion there may be some differences however lots of similarities between treatment of the Newcastle eccentric and for example the local horder or cat lady or other contemporary eccentric in our times.

Generally in the UK traditions the scope of inclusion of "bits of news" or environmental awareness started narrow and broadened perhaps.....more dimensions added over time.

Anyway any new sources would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your kind assistance



Conrad