John Gay and the London theatre /

The title of this work by an important 18th-century scholar explains the contents as clearly as his own words: "an introduction to John Gay in his role as dramatic author, and to the theatre for which he composed his plays." Winton spins this unassuming argument into a very interesting story with a fine gathering of details on John Gay's development, his association with major writers like Pope and Swift, and the theater of the first half century. Without letting detail dominate, Winton explores both the social/political and the literary/theatrical complications of this world as Gay entered the politicized arena of playwriting. Along with a "fresh reading of Gay's dramatic canon," each chapter presents one step in Gay's playwriting and poetic progress. Winton demonstrates well the steady growth of the playwright toward his crowning achievement of The Beggar's Opera, which was by no means an accidental success but the culmination of all his work to that point. We are informed too of reasons why some of Gay's plays were suppressed or refused production, as well as the level of his ultimate achievement. Extensive notes, a full index, and two appendixes make this both a valuable scholarly study and lively reading for any level of student about this too-little-known author, whose importance needs this intelligent and well-researched assessment. B. E. McCarthy; College of the Holy Cross