Switch to English Switch to French

The Open University  |   Study at the OU  |   About the OU  |   Research at the OU  |   Search the OU

Listen to this page  |   Accessibility

the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

Reading Experience Database UK Historical image of readers
  RED International Logo

RED Australia logo


RED Canada logo
RED Netherlands logo
RED New Zealand logo

Listings for Author:  

John Gay

 

Click here to select all entries:

 


  

John Gay : The Beggar's Opera

Play'd tunes in 'The Beggars Opera' 2 hours after dinner.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile      Print: Book

  

John Gay : The Beggars Opera

Tuned harpsichord and play'd some of Beggars Opera songs after supper alone.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile      Print: Book

  

John Gay : The Beggar's Opera

Mrs Newton, Lady Palmerston, Lady Clavering and 2 daughters (great fortunes), and 3 Mrs Fox's here. While the last 2 were here, and Mrs D'Enly alone in Mother's room, I read 'The Beggar's Opera' to them in intervals before and after supper.

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Gertrude Savile      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Trivia: or the art of walking the streets of London

?This evening my father has been reading out Gay?s Trivia to our great entertainment. I wished very much, my dear aunt, that you and Sophy had been sitting round the fire with us. If you have Trivia, and if you have time, will you humour your niece so far as to look at it? I think there are many things in it which will please you, especially the ?Patten and the Shoeblack?, and the old woman hovering over her little fire in a hard winter. Pray tell me if you like it.?

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: R.L. Edgeworth      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Choir, The

'On turning to my book, I find I have journalised only one day, during this summer vis [sic] July 29, when I walked after tea with Mrs Cole a new walk down Penny-black Lane, across Chapman's Common, & into the Scalby Road - a short way into the Whitby Road, & returned over the fields by the bleach yard on the Whitby Road - a delightful rural walk. Read in Dibdin's Decameron - Delany's Life of King David, & Gay's Choir.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: John Cole      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Fables

'I completed the reading of Gay's "Fables", which I think contains a very good lesson of morality; and I think the language very healthy, being very natural.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Turner      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Gay's Fables

'I always hated Gay's Fables, and for long could not abide a red book.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Harriet Martineau      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets

'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter      Print: Book

  

John Gay : [burlesque 'pastorals']

'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter      Print: Book

  

John Gay : The Village Curate

'It was at this time that I read the remaining seven volumes of the "Spectator"; to which I added the "Rambler", the "Tatler", and some others of the "British Essayists". I also read the poetical works of Milton, Addison, Goldsmith, Gray, Collins, Falconer, Pomfret, Akenside, Mrs. Rowe, with others which I cannot now clearly call to mind. I remember, however, to have read Gay's poems. These gave me more than usual satisfaction. I was much amused with his "Trivia, or the Art of Walking London Streets" but I was especially pleased with his admirably burlesque "pastorals". These just squared with my humour, for I had then, as I have ever had, an utter dislike to the sickening stuff that is called the pastoral poetry...I must not omit to mention the pleasure I derived from reading a poem called "The Village Curate", which, I think, has fallen into unmerited oblivion.'

Century: 1800-1849     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Carter      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Beggar's Opera

'Looked over the "Beggar's Opera". The slang of low iniquity, is happily given in this strange drama...'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Green      Print: Book

  

John Gay : Beggar's Opera, The

'The late "worthy'' Duke of Queensberry, as Thomson, in his "Seasons," justly characterises him, told me that when Gay showed him "The Beggar's Opera," his Grace's observation was, "This is a very odd thing, Gay; I am satisfied that it is either a very good thing, or a very bad thing." It proved the former, beyond the warmest expectations of the authour or his friends'.

Unknown
Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: Charles Douglas, Third Duke of Queensberry      

  

John Gay : [unknown]

'I told him that from reading Gay's writings, I had taken an affection to his Grace's family from my earliest years.'

Century: 1700-1799     Reader/Listener/Group: James Boswell      Print: Book

  

John Gay : The Hare and Many Friends

From the Commonplace book of Mrs Austen of Ensbury: '“Friendship like love is but a name, Unless to one you stint the flame” Gay.' This is followed by lines clearly inspired by this, beginning “The British fabulist misleads the mind, / Friendship and love are better thus defined…’

Unknown
Century: 1800-1849 / 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Catherine Austen      

 

Click here to select all entries:

 

   
   
Green Turtle Web Design