This book contains a collection of verse written and illustrated by W. S. Gilbert. The Bab Ballads was written prior to his becoming famous for his comic opera Librettos, and was integral to the development of his famous "topsy-turvy" style. This approach entailed silly situations being followed through to their logical conclusions - in hilarious style. This volume is highly recommended for lovers of comic literature, and is not to be missed by fans and collectors of Gilbert s work. William Schwenck Gilbert (1836 1911) was an English dramatist, illustrator and poet, most famous for the co-writing the Savoy operas with Sir Arthur Sullivan. Many vintage texts such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now, in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author."