The Beggar's Opera - Hardcover

Gay, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1421809656 ISBN 13: 9781421809656

Publisher: 1st World Library - Literary Society, 2006

Synopsis

BEGGAR. If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure no-body can dispute mine. I own myself of the Company of Beggars; and I make one at their Weekly Festivals at St. Giles's. I have a small Yearly Salary for my Catches, and am welcome to a Dinner there whenever I please, which is more than most Poets can say. PLAYER. As we live by the Muses, it is but Gratitude in us to encourage Poetical Merit wherever we find it. The Muses, contrary to all other Ladies, pay no Distinction to Dress, and never partially mistake the Pertness of Embroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want for Dulness. Be the Author who he will, we push his Play as far as it will go. So (though you are in Want) I wish you success heartily.

About this title

Review

"Offers a useful performance history of the satirical ballad-opera...the New Mermaids [edition] includes music as well as words for the songs."--"Plays International"

Offers a useful performance history of the satirical ballad-opera...the New Mermaids [edition] includes music as well as words for the songs. Plays International"

"Offers a useful performance history of the satirical ballad-opera...the New Mermaids [edition] includes music as well as words for the songs." --Plays International

About the Author

John Gay was an English playwright and poet who is most famous for his satirical masterpiece The Beggar s Opera. Originally employed in the government, Gay turned to writing after losing his position following the death of Queen Anne in 1714. From then on, Gay relied on his income from writing, building up a long list of patrons over the course of his career, and making contact with some of the most famous writers of the time, including Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope (and with whom he was a member of the informal society of authors and thinkers known as the Scriblerus Club). After losing the majority of his fortune to a bad investment, Gay eventually found his greatest success in The Beggar s Opera, a ballad opera that satirized society and government, and which ran for sixty-two nights upon its initial release. Gay died on December 4, 1732, at the age of forty-seven, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Edition details

• Publisher: 1st World Library - Literary Society
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1421809656
• ISBN 13: 9781421809656
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 108
• Editor: 1stworld Library