The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard

audiobook

The Bab Ballads, with Which Are Included Songs of a Savoyard

by W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

EN·~6 hours·168 chapters

Chapters

168 total
1

The Bab Ballads

6:17
2

CAPTAIN REECE

3:09
3

THE DARNED MOUNSEER

1:30
4

THE RIVAL CURATES

2:40
5

THE ENGLISHMAN

0:23
6

ONLY A DANCING GIRL

1:23
7

THE DISAGREEABLE MAN

1:24
8

GENERAL JOHN

1:57
9

THE COMING BY-AND-BY

0:58
10

TO A LITTLE MAID - BY A POLICEMAN

0:45

Description

A lively anthology of witty verses and playful songs invites listeners into a world of satire, absurdity, and gentle mock‑heroics. The poet’s sharp eye turns everyday characters—curates, policemen, aristocrats, and ordinary folk—into comic caricatures, each piece delivering a punchy rhyme and a twist of humour that feels both timeless and instantly engaging.

Interwoven with the verses are fresh, lively drawings that capture the mischievous spirit of the words, offering a visual counterpart to the lyrical jokes. The collection also includes a selection of theatrical numbers drawn from the writer’s celebrated light operas, showcasing the same clever wordplay set to music. Together, the poems and songs create a bright, entertaining listening experience that celebrates the art of the comic lyric without ever taking itself too seriously.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~6 hours (362K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Chris Curnow, Jwala Kumar Sista, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Release date

2017-03-28

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

W. S. (William Schwenck) Gilbert

1836–1911

Best known as the witty lyricist behind the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, he helped shape Victorian musical theatre with sharp satire, absurd plots, and a wonderfully precise ear for language. His work still feels lively thanks to its mix of elegance, mischief, and memorable songs.

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