The Library of Alexandria is an independent small business publishing house. We specialize in bringing back to live rare, historical and ancient Books. This includes manuscripts such as: classical fiction, philosophy, science, Religion, folklore, mythology, history, literature, politics and sacred texts, in addition to Secret and esoteric subjects, such as: occult, freemasonry, alchemy, hermetic, shamanism and ancient knowledge. Our Books are available in digital format. We have approximat...

The theme of this Megapack is classic mystery and crime fiction from the Victorian era. We have taken the liberty of extending the qualifying publication dates to the end of World War I, since that event marked more of a turning point in world literature than the advent of the Edwardian Age. Certainly the spirit of Victorian crime fiction continued beyond Queen Victoria. This volume contains 25 stories and 2 bonus novels, offering hours of reading pleasure.THE LENTON CROFT ROBBERIE...

Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas are some of the world’s best-loved musical works, delighting audiences with their joyous wit, topsy-turvy logic and extravagant wordplay. This glorious treasury is the definitive annotated edition of all fourteen of their operas.From the partially lost work Thespis, the first collaboration between W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, through the triumphant comic romps The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, to lesser-performed ...

Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan and to the works they jointly created. The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known. Gilbert, who wrote the words, created fanciful "topsy-turvy" worlds for these operas where each absurdity is taken to its logical conclusion—fairies rub e...

About thirty years since, several of "The Bab Ballads" (most of which had appeared, from time to time, in the pages of Fun) were collected by me, and published by Messrs. George Routledge and Sons. This volume passed through several editions, and, in due course, was followed by a second series under the title of "More Bab Ballads," which achieved a popularity equal to that of its predecessor. Subsequently, excerpts were made from these two volumes, and, under the title of "Fifty Bab Ballad...

“The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu” is a comic musical opera written by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert in 1885. Gilbert and Sullivan were a Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900). Together they collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896 which are still performed and loved today. Among their most famous works are 'H.M.S. Pinafore', 'The Pirates of Penzance' and 'The Mikado'. Classic M...

An English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas (known as the Savoy operas) produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. 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.This volume includes complete Bad Ballads and plays of Gilbert.In writing the Bab Ballads, Gilbert developed his unique "to...

Songs of a Savoyard is a spirited collection of humorous and satirical verses that showcase the poet's sharp wit and playful critique of social life. The work combines melody and mockery to illuminate the ironies of everyday existence, where pride, folly, and pretense become subjects of light hearted ridicule. Opening with lively depictions of sailors, officers, and eccentric figures, the collection captures the charm of rhythmic storytelling and comic exaggeration. Through its engaging pa...

In "Original Plays, Second Series," W. S. Gilbert showcases his mastery of comedic dialogue and sharp satire, expanding upon the whimsical and often absurd themes established in his earlier works. This collection includes four plays that deftly intertwine wit with social commentary, using clever wordplay and intricate plots to entertain while provoking thought. The literary style, characterized by its rhythmic verse and clever puns, places Gilbert at the forefront of Victorian theater, whe...

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 to...

One of the prominent plays in this volume is "The Palace of Truth", a comedy that imagines a world where people cannot lie. This fantastical scenario leads to a series of comical situations where characters' hidden truths are revealed, often causing chaos and embarrassment. The play highlights Gilbert's satirical perspective on the Victorian obsession with social propriety and the consequences of unfiltered honesty. It also explores themes of personal integrity and the consequences of abso...

W. S. Gilbert's operatic masterpiece, "The Gondoliers, or the King of Barataria," is a brilliant satire of social class and governance, enriched with his characteristic wit and whimsical charm. Set in a fictional Venetian landscape, the narrative unfolds through the comedic entanglements of two gondoliers who are unwittingly revealed to be heirs to the throne of Barataria. The work is marked by lively dialogue, intricate rhyme schemes, and memorable musical numbers, encapsulating the playf...