Book excerpt: The Victorian theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan produced fourteen comic operas that would exact a major influence on the history of theatre. Such popular classics as ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘The Mikado’ conjured fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds, where absurd premises are taken to a logical conclusion. Notable for their humour and pathos, these celebrated operas enjoyed an enduring international success and are still performed frequently throughout the English-speaking world. For the first time in digital publishing, this comprehensive eBook presents Gilbert’s complete extant works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Gilbert and Sullivan’s lives and works * Concise introductions to the operas and other texts * All of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, with individual contents tables * Features Gilbert’s other dramatic plays and librettos, many appearing for the first time in digital publishing * Excellent formatting of the texts * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for Gilbert’s poetry * Easily locate the poems or short stories you want to read * Includes Gilbert’s complete Bab Ballads – available in no other collection * THE BAB BALLADS collection is illustrated with Gilbert’s original artwork * Includes Gilbert’s short fiction * Features four biographies - discover Gilbert and Sullivan’s extraordinary history * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles CONTENTS: Gilbert and Sullivan Works THESPIS TRIAL BY JURY THE SORCERER H.M.S. PINAFORE THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE PATIENCE IOLANTHE PRINCESS IDA THE MIKADO RUDDYGORE THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD THE GONDOLIERS UTOPIA, LIMITED THE GRAND DUKE Gilbert’s Other Dramatic Works RUY BLAS DULCAMARA LA VIVANDIÈRE ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN A COLOSSAL IDEA HARLEQUIN COCK ROBIN AND JENNY WREN THE MERRY ZINGARA ROBERT THE DEVIL NO CARDS THE PRETTY DRUIDESS AGES AGO A MEDICAL MAN THE PRINCESS THE GENTLEMAN IN BLACK OUR ISLAND HOME THE PALACE OF TRUTH THE BRIGANDS RANDALL’S THUMB A SENSATION NOVEL CREATURES OF IMPULSE GREAT EXPECTATIONS ON GUARD PYGMALION AND GALATEA HAPPY ARCADIA THE WICKED WORLD THE HAPPY LAND THE WEDDING MARCH CHARITY TOPSYTURVEYDOM SWEETHEARTS ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN TOM COBB EYES AND NO EYES; OR, THE ART OF SEEING BROKEN HEARTS PRINCESS TOTO DAN’L DRUCE, BLACKSMITH ON BAIL ENGAGED THE NE’ER-DO-WEEL GRETCHEN FOGGERTY’S FAIRY BRANTINGHAME HALL THE MOUNTEBANKS HIS EXCELLENCY THE FORTUNE HUNTER HARLEQUIN AND THE FAIRY’S DILEMMA THE HOOLIGAN TRYING A DRAMATIST Gilbert’s Short Fiction FOGGERTY’S FAIRY AND OTHER TALES THE STORY OF H.M.S. PINAFORE Gilbert’s Poetry Collections THE BAB BALLADS MORE BAB BALLADS SONGS OF A SAVOYARD MISCELLANEOUS BAB BALLADS The Poems LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Biographies W. S. GILBERT by Louis Engel SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN by Louis Engel SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN by George Grossmith GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERA: A HISTORY AND COMMENT by H. M. Walbrook Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles or to purchase this eBook as a Parts Edition of individual eBooks