Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs

"Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs" by W. S. Gilbert is a collection of humorous poems and songs written in the late 19th century. This work showcases Gilbert's wit and satirical commentary on various aspects of society, ranging from love and marriage to social status and absurdity in everyday life. The poems include a variety of characters and scenarios, each delivering clever rhymes and engaging narratives that reflect the author's sharp sense of humor. The opening portion introduces a series of whimsical ballads, beginning with "The Yarn of the 'Nancy Bell'," where an elderly naval man recounts a darkly comedic tale of survival at sea, touching on themes of desperation and cannibalism. It unfolds with lively descriptions of seafaring life and eccentric characters, setting the tone for the collection. Each ballad follows a different amusing narrative or character, hinting at Gilbert's skill in blending comedic elements with social critique, making the opening an engaging invitation into the humorous world of his verse. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. The popularity of these works was supported for over a century by year-round performances of them, in Britain and abroad, by the repertory company that Gilbert, Sullivan and their producer Richard D'Oyly Carte founded, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. These Savoy operas are still frequently performed in the English-speaking world and beyond.