Download or read book A Most Ingenious Paradox written by Gayden Wren and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2001 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most books written about Gilbert & Sullivan have focused on the authors rather than the works. With this detailed examination of all fourteen operas, Gayden Wren fills this void. His bold thesis finds the key to the operas' longevity, not in the clever lyrics, witty dialogue, or catchy music, but in their timeless themes, which speak to audiences as powerfully now as they did the first time the operas were performed. This volume is essential reading for any devotee of these enchanting works, or indeed for anyone who loves musical theater.