Most books about Gilbert & Sullivan have focused on the authors rather than the works. With this examination of all fourteen operas, Wren fills this void. He finds the key to the operas' longevity not in the clever lyrics, witty dialogue, or catchy music, but in their timeless and universal themes.

Introduction 1. Gilbert before Sullivan 2. Sullivan before Gilbert 3. Thespis 4. Trial by Jury 5. The Sorcerer 6. H.M.S. Pinafore 7. The Pirates of Penzance 8. Patience 9. Iolanthe 10. Princess Ida 11. The Mikado 12. Ruddigore 13. The Yeomen of the Guard 14. The Gondoliers 15. Utopia, Limited 16. The Grand Duke 17. Gilbert after Sullivan, Sullivan after Gilbert 18. Legacy Appendix A: The Story of the Savoy Operas Appendix B: Revisions to Ruddigore Notes Bibliography Index

Gayden Wren

"There are a multitude of books about Gilbert and Sullivan...many of them, as [Wren] duly notes, are sketchy or superficial. But no one could fairly throw these adjectives at A Most Ingenious Paradox itself. Mr. Wren argues his case in impressive detail."--The Wall Street Journal |k No