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GAY, John

The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera

London: [...] John Bell, 1791

Illustrated by

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The Beggar's Opera; A Comic Opera, by John Gay. Adapted for theatrical representation, as performed at the Theatre-Royal, Drury-Lane. Regulated from the prompt-book, by permission of the Managers.

London: Printed for the Proprietors, under the Direction of John Bell, British Library, Strand, Bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales: 1791. 15.8 x 10 cm, 99 numbered pages.

Very poor condition, missing covers. Signatures are all partly separated from each other, the paper is crimpled, with the outer leaves being especially grubby and darkened. Pages are very tanned, deckled-edged, with some nibbling and further creasing to extremities. Some foxing throughout with a few minor stains. Surprisingly, this is complete with all pages present, clear and legible (except the missing covers). It has been placed (perhaps by its previous owner) between two marbled covers (that have worn and detached from each other), with two labels to front on which 'The Beggar's Opera by John Gay" is handwritten in black pen, and writing in pencil to the inside cover. A readable copy that is over two centuries' old.

In The Beggar's Opera, Gay depicts the lives of a group of thieves and prostitutes in 18th-century London. The story revolves around Peachum, a receiver of stolen goods, his daughter Polly, and Macheath, a notorious highwayman. Through this narrative, Gay satirises the government, high society, marriage, and the Italian operatic style. The Beggar's Opera is the only dramatic Work by which John Gay survives on the modern age.

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