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The Beggar's Opera
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025298962
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 436
Weight: 1.34
Height: 0.89 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Beggar's Opera is a seminal work of eighteenth-century musical theater that fundamentally altered the landscape of English drama. Written by John Gay, this brilliant ballad opera serves as a sharp satirical mirror held up to the political corruption and social hypocrisy of its time. Eschewing the lofty themes of traditional Italian opera, Gay populates his stage with the rogues, thieves, and highwaymen of London's criminal underbelly.
The narrative centers on the dashing Captain Macheath, a notorious criminal whose secret marriage to Polly Peachum triggers a vengeful plot by her father. As Macheath navigates a world of betrayal, dual-crossing lovers, and the ever-present threat of Newgate Prison, the play highlights the unsettling parallels between the low-born criminal element and the high-ranking members of the ruling class. By utilizing popular folk tunes and contemporary songs, Gay created a work that was both accessible to the masses and deeply subversive. The Beggar's Opera remains a cornerstone of literary history, celebrated for its cynical wit, its innovative structure, and its enduring influence on the development of the modern musical.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
18 different editions
Also available
Also from
Gay, John
The Poetical Works of John Gay: In Three Volumes. Collated With the Best Editions: , Volumes 1-2
Gay, John
Park, Thomas
Hardcover
Gay's The Beggar's Opera, With new Settings of the Airs and Additional Music by Frederic Austin
Gay, John
Pepusch, John Christopher
Paperback
The Beggar's Opera, as it is now Acted by His Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Gay. A new Edition
Gay, John
Hardcover
Fables by John Gay, With a Life of the Author, and Embellished With a Plate to Each Fable
Gay, John
Hardcover
Gay's Chair, Poems, Never Before Printed Written by John Gay AUTHOR OF THE SEGGAR'S OPARA, FABLES, &c. With a Sketch of His Life, From the Mss. of ...
Baller, Joseph
Lee, Henry
Gay, John
Hardcover
The Poetical Works; Gay's Fables; and Somerville's Chase. With Memoirs and Critical Dissertations
Addison, Joseph
Gay, John
Gilfillan, George
Hardcover
Achilles in Petticoats. an Opera ... Written by Mr. Gay, with Alterations [by George Colman, the Elder].
Gay, John
Colman, George
Paperback
Fables De M. Gay, Suivies Du Poëme De L'évantail, Le Tout Traduit De L'anglois Par Madame De Keralio
Gay, John
Paperback
Gay's The Beggar's Opera, With new Settings of the Airs and Additional Music by Frederic Austin
Gay, John
Pepusch, John Christopher
Hardcover
Wine a Poem. to Which Is Added Old England's New Triumph: Or, the Battel [sic] of Audenard. a Song.
Gay, John
Paperback
Wine a Poem. to Which Is Added, Old England's New Triumph: Or, the Battle of Audenard. a Song.
Gay, John
Paperback
Trivia: or, the art of walking the streets of London. By Mr. Gay. The third edition.
Gay, John
Paperback
The beggar's opera, as it is now acted by His Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Gay. A new edition.
Gay, John
Paperback
The Poetical Works of John Gay. With A Life of the Author, by Dr. Johnson. Vol. 1
Gay, John
Paperback
Fables by John Gay, with a Life of the Author, and Embellished with a Plate to Each Fable.
Gay, John
Paperback
Polly: An Opera; Being the Second Part of the Beggar's Opera. Written by Mr. Gay.
Gay, John
Paperback
The Poetical Works of John Gay. With A Life of the Author, by Dr. Johnson. Vol. 2
Gay, John
Paperback
Rural Sports Together with the Birth of the Squire and the Hound and the Huntsman
Gay, John
Paperback
On Varicose Disease of the Lower Extremities, and Its Allied Disorders. Lettsomian Lects., 1867
Gay, John
Paperback
Fables By John Gay In Two Parts: To Which Are Added Fables By Edward Moore
Moore, Edward
Gay, John
Paperback
Poems by John Gay: With and Introduction by Francis Bickley; Ornamented by Martin Travers
Travers, Martin
Gay, John
Bickley, Francis
Paperback
Poems by John Gay: With and Introduction by Francis Bickley; Ornamented by Martin Travers
Bickley, Francis
Travers, Martin
Gay, John
Hardcover
Polly, an Opera. Being the Second Part of The Beggar's Opera
Pepusch, John Christopher 1667-1752
Gay, John
Hardcover
Polly: An Opera. Being the Second Part of The Beggar's Opera. Written by Mr. Gay. The Second Edition
Gay, John
Hardcover
Trivia: Or, the art of Walking the Streets of London. By Mr. Gay. The Third Edition
Gay, John
Hardcover
The Fables of John Gay: With Biographical and Critical Introduction and Bibliograhical Appendix
Gay, John
Wright, William Henry Kearley
Paperback
Polly, an Opera. Being the Second Part of The Beggar's Opera
Gay, John
Pepusch, John Christopher 1667-1752
Paperback
Gay's Chair, Poems, Never Before Printed Written by John Gay AUTHOR OF THE SEGGAR'S OPARA, FABLES, &c. With a Sketch of His Life, From the Mss. of ...
Baller, Joseph
Lee, Henry
Gay, John
Paperback
The Fables of John Gay: With Biographical and Critical Introduction and Bibliograhical Appendix
Gay, John
Wright, W. H. K. 1844-1915
Harvey, William
Hardcover
The Poetical Works of Joseph Addison, Gay's Fables, and Somerville's Chase: With Memoirs and Critical Dissertations
Gay, John
Gilfillan, George
Addison, Joseph
Hardcover
Polly, an Opera: Being the Sequel to The Beggar's Opera now Freely Adapted by Clifford Bax
Gay, John
Hardcover
Fables By John Gay, In Two Parts: To Which Are Added Fables By Edward Moore (1800)
Moore, Edward
Gay, John
Paperback
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