WS Gilbert - The Ballads

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert at 17 Southampton Street just off the Strand in London on November 18th 1836. He was a man of a great many talents; dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator. Of course he is better known as the collaborator with Arthur Sullivan of 14 light comic operas under that world famous moniker Gilbert & Sullivan. They continue to be performed and to entertain millions every year from commercial theatres down to amateur dramatic societies and schools. Here we publish his Volume 1 of his Ballads. Gilbert used them as a later source of material for his operas but even in their own right when published they were immensely popular and successful.