Life And Letters Of John Gay (1685-1732), Author of "The Beggar's Opera"

Name: Life And Letters Of John Gay (1685-1732), Author of "The Beggar's Opera"
Author: Lewis Melville

By Lewis Melville

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Biographies British Literature

About This Book

The author traces the subject's life from provincial origins through formative years, literary beginnings, and the composition of poems, fables, and popular stage pieces, documenting both creative processes and public reception. It discusses friendships with leading writers and patrons, financial vicissitudes including investments and public appointments, and the controversies surrounding the staging of a celebrated ballad-opera and its sequel. Large sections present letters, contemporaneous commentary, and a chronological record of correspondence, while appendices note musical sources and production material, offering a blend of narrative biography and documentary apparatus.

About the Author

Lewis Melville

Lewis Melville was a British author and biographer known for his detailed explorations of literary figures and historical personalities. His notable works include "Farmer George," a two-volume biography that delves into the life of King George III, and "Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Her Life and Letters," which highlights the correspondence and contributions of the 18th-century writer. Melville's writings often reflect a keen interest in the eccentricities of his subjects, as seen in his collection "Some Eccentrics & a Woman." Through his biographical narratives, Melville contributed to the understanding of the lives and contexts of significant literary figures.