Benjamin Britten arranged his second set of folk songs in December of 1942, just after his return to England following an extended stay in the United States. This volume of settings, derived from a single (though unknown) French source, was likely written at the suggestion of Sophie Wyss, the principal interpreter of Britten's vocal pieces before the composer's partnership with tenor Peter Pears. Britten dedicated this set "To my young friends Arnold and Humphrey Gyde," Wyss' children. Although the settings were not published until 1946, both Wyss and the duo of Britten and Pears performed them on numerous occasions beginning in 1943.

Each setting in this book is uniquely cast according to Britten's singular pictorial sense: some evoke specific imagery according to the text, while others are more atmospheric. Britten's choice of French folk songs demonstrates, perhaps, the international aspect of his musical tastes, often forgotten in light of his strong association with British music.

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