Publisher's Synopsis
The Beggar's Opera is a satirical play written by John Gay in 1728. The story is set in the criminal underworld of London and follows the character of Macheath, a notorious highwayman, as he navigates his way through love affairs, betrayals, and run-ins with the law. The play is notable for its use of popular ballads and folk songs of the time, which are woven into the narrative to comment on the corruption and hypocrisy of the ruling class. The Beggar's Opera was a groundbreaking work that challenged the conventions of traditional opera and paved the way for the development of modern musical theater. It remains a popular and influential work to this day.MATT. We retrench the Superfluities of Mankind. The World is avaritious, and I hate Avarice. A covetous fellow, like a Jackdaw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the Robbers of Mankind, for Money was made for the Free- hearted and Generous.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
