Bibliographic information:
ISBN: 9781804470664
Paperback • 160pp • £7.99
129 mm x 198 mm
30 August 2023
BIC: DCF, WH, WHX
Territory: World English

The Bab Ballads

A New Selection

W.S. Gilbert

With an introduction and notes by Andrew Crowther, secretary of the W.S. Gilbert Society

Paperback

160pp

Publication date: 30 August 2023

ISBN: 9781804470664

£7.99

PRE-ORDER

 

‘“What?” said the reverend gent,
“Dance through my hours of leisure?
Smoke? Bathe myself with scent?
Play croquet? Oh, with pleasure!”’

Today W.S. Gilbert is best known for the comic operas he produced in collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, but another of his great – and numerous – literary contributions were his humorous ballads, written and illustrated under the pseudonym ‘Bab’.

Combining his trademark absurdist wit with keenly observed character studies, the ballads are a satirical tour de force that lambast society figures. This new selection, chosen and introduced by Andrew Crowther, Secretary of the W.S. Gilbert Society, brings together the very best of the ballads and presents the ‘Bab’ works for a new readership.

W.S. Gilbert

William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911) was a dramatist, poet, author, illustrator and librettist. Although he was a prolific writer, producing around 75 plays and dramatic works, he is best known today for the comic operas he produced in collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, including HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, which continue to enjoy huge popularity worldwide.

Other titles by W.S. Gilbert

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