Engaged, W.S. Gilbert's most popular stage work after the comic operas he produced in collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, is a farcical comedy that has long lived in the literary shadows - although wildly neglected today, the play influenced literary names as great as George Bernard Shaw, and directly inspired Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Centring on a rich young man's search for a wife and his uncle and best friend's attempts to hinder him, the play toys with conventional notions of love and sincerity. In this edition, which also contains notes and an essay by the undisputed authority on W.S. Gilbert, Andrew Crowther, Engaged deserves to step out into the spotlight once more.

With an introduction and notes by Andrew Crowther, secretary of the W.S. Gilbert Society

About the Author
William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1911) was a dramatist, poet, author, illustrator and librettist. Although he was a prolific writer, producing around 75 plays and dramatic works, he is best known today for the comic operas he produced in collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, including HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, which continue to enjoy huge popularity worldwide.

Reviews
'The laughter was almost incessant.' (The New York Times) 'The satirical comedy of Mr Gilbert has all the sting, smack and strength of neat brandy... a sudden gulp of it is apt to take one's breath away.' (The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News)



Book Information
ISBN 9781913724429
Author W.S. Gilbert
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Renard Press Ltd
Publisher Renard Press Ltd