Poems by the writer of The Beggar's Opera. John Gay had a humorously sardonic view of human nature. From three centuries ago, his Fables show that nothing changes. All life is here - charlatans, doxies, thugs, misers, the self-deluded, the gossips, the opportunist politicians ... and many animals who know better. Fully illustrated with line drawings by Dandi Palmer. From "The Elephant and the Bookseller": - When wrinkling with a sneer, his trunk, "Friend," quoth the Elephant, "you're drunk; E'en keep your money, and be wise: Leave man on man, to criticise; For that you ne'er can want a pen,...
Poems by the writer of The Beggar's Opera. John Gay had a humorously sardonic view of human nature. From three centuries ago, his Fables show that not...
"Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their Whores, but they are very Devils to their Wives." Raucous, lyrical, witty, ironic and tragic by turns, The Beggar's Opera and Polly--published together here for the first time--offer a scathing and ebullient portrait of a society in which statesmen and outlaws, colonialists and pirates, are impossible to tell apart. With The Beggar's Opera, John Gay created one of the most enduringly popular works in English theatre history, and invented a new dramatic form, the ballad opera. Gay's daring mixture of caustic political satire,...
"Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their Whores, but they are very Devils to their Wives." Raucous, lyrical, witty, ironic and t...
John Gay, David Lindley, Prof. Vivien Jones (University of Leeds, Leeds)
Written in 1728, John Gay's opera caricatures society, marriage and Italian operatic style in this comic satire which is considered revolutionary because it took on poverty and corruption as its subject as told by the thieves, prostitutes and villains of the slums and prisons of 18th century London. The lyrics were set to famous songs the day making it hugely popular with audiences and a radical departure from traditional opera. Bertolt Brech and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera is based on this work.
In the story Peachum is horrified to learn of their daughter's secret...
Written in 1728, John Gay's opera caricatures society, marriage and Italian operatic style in this comic satire which is considered revolutionary b...
A scholarly edition of poetry and prose by John Gay. The edition presents an authoritative text, together with an introduction, commentary notes, and scholarly apparatus.
A scholarly edition of poetry and prose by John Gay. The edition presents an authoritative text, together with an introduction, commentary notes, and ...
