The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
‘Whore and rogue they call husband and wife: All professions be-rogue one another'
The tale of Peachum, thief-taker and informer, conspiring to send the dashing and promiscuous highwayman Macheath to the gallows, became the theatrical sensation of the eighteenth century. In The Beggar’s Opera, John Gay turned conventions of Italian opera riotously upside-down, instead using traditional popular ballads and street tunes, while also indulging in political satire at the expense of the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole. Gay’s highly original depiction of the thieves, informers, prostitutes and highwaymen thronging the slums and prisons of the corrupt London underworld proved brilliantly successful in exposing the dark side of a corrupt and jaded society.
Bryan Loughrey and T. O. Treadwell’s introduction examines the eighteenth-century background of musical theatre and opera, the changing cityscape of London and the corruption of the legal system. This edition also includes a note on the music in The Beggar’s Opera and suggestions for further reading.
Reviews
Review this book!
Available Copies
The Beggar's Opera: As it is Acted At the Theatre-Royal in Lincolns-Inn Fields. Written by Mr. Gay. the Fourth Edition: to Which is Added the Ouverture in Score; and the Musick Prefix'd to Each Song
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Very Good with no dust jacket; Boards rubbed and splayed, some light foxing and toning, particularly at first and last several
- Edition
- Fourth Edition
- Published
- 1735
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Selkirk, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$516.30
Show Details
The Beggar’s Opera: The Full Text of the 1777 edition, reprinted in connection with the Performances of a New Musical Version realised from the Original Airs by Benjamin Britten
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 1948
- Binding
- Paperback
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Oswestry, Shropshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$74.84
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - VG
- Edition
- 1st Printing
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Alliance, Ohio, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$103.26
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Slip case VG
- Edition
- First Thus
- Published
- 1961
- Binding
- Quarter bound in brown leather over fine patterned covered boards
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$17.21
Show Details
The Beggars Opera (New Mermaids)
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used; Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780713673821
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Milton Keynes , Buckinghamshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.45
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - VG
- Jacket Condition
- No dj
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$46.45
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera: to Which Is Added the Music to Each Song
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Very Good +
- Jacket Condition
- Slipcase-Very Good
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
AURORA, Ohio, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$25.82
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera: A Faithful Reproduction of the 1729 Edition Which Includes the Words and Music of all the Airs, As Well As the Score for the Overture
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Very Good; Slipcase worn.
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1961
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Selkirk, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$34.42
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Signed Limited Edition
- Published
- 1921
- Binding
- Gilt-decorated Boards
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
London, Greater London, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$267.66
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Plus
- Edition
- First Thus.
- Published
- 1922
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Chico, California, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$258.15
Show Details
Beggar's Opera, The (SIGNED BY ILLUSTRATOR, LIMITED EDITION)
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- None
- Edition
- 1st
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Middlebury, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$86.05
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera.
by GAY John:
- Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Thornhill, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$53.53
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John. With an Introduction by Oswald Doughty
- Condition
- Used - Very good in like dust jacket
- Edition
- LIMITED EDITION of 950 copies sold.
- Published
- 1922
- Binding
- Hard with Dust Jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hexham, Northumberland, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$55.67
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera (Regents Restoration Drama Series)
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - VG
- Published
- 1969
- Binding
- Soft cover
- ISBN
- 9780803253612
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hove, East Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$20.45
Show Details
[Gay, John] The Beggar's Opera
by Gay, John
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1728
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$946.55
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera - Regents Restoration Drama Series Series
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1984
- Binding
- Medium Trade Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780713154887
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Traralgon, Victoria, AUS
- Item Price
-
NZ$13.79
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by Gay John
- Condition
- Used - Good-
- Edition
- First Edition.
- Published
- 1921
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Bere Alston, Devon, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$7.64
Show Details
The Throat
by Straub, Peter
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1994
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780451179180
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Tolar, Texas, USA
- Item Price
-
NZ$6.88
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+
- Published
- 1937
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Cape Town, ZAF
- Item Price
-
NZ$51.63
Show Details
The Beggar's Opera (New Mermaids)
by John Gay
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780713673821
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
-
NZ$20.32