2026 Reading Challenge
John Gay

John Gay’s Followers (27)

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John Gay


Born
in Barnstaple, Devon, England
June 30, 1685

Died
December 04, 1732

Genre
Drama, Poetry


Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

John Gay was an English poet and dramatist. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera (1728), set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peachum, became household names. ...more

Combine Editions

Average rating: 3.49 · 6,800 ratings · 393 reviews · 570 distinct works • Similar authors
The Beggar's Opera
by
3.41 avg rating — 4,088 ratings — published 1728 — 179 editions
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Trivia: or, the Art of Walk...
3.01 avg rating — 188 ratings — published 1714 — 71 editions
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The Beggar's Opera / Polly
by
3.29 avg rating — 150 ratings — published 1728 — 13 editions
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Polly
3.13 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 1729 — 65 editions
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The Fables of John Gay Illu...
by
3.89 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1727 — 447 editions
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Selected Poems
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1979 — 4 editions
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Achilles
4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2009 — 21 editions
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Acis and Galatea
4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — 19 editions
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The shepherd's week, 1714
3.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1714 — 38 editions
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A Ópera do Mendigo
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
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More books by John Gay…
Quotes by John Gay  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“A man is always afraid of a woman that loves him too much”
― John Gay, The Beggar's Opera
tags: afraid, love, men, polly, women
26 likes
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“Love is so whimsical in both sexes that it is impossible to be lasting. But my heart is particular and contradicts my own observation.”
― John Gay, The Beggar's Opera
13 likes
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“My Own Epitaph
Life's a jest, and all things show it.
I thought so once, and now I know it.”
― John Gay
13 likes
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