Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was the most brilliant dramatist of Victorian England. He was also a prolific journalist and humorous poet and he achieved worldwide fame through his long collaboration with Arthur Sullivan on the Savoy Operas.

To many he seemed difficult and quarrelsome but to others he showed both kindness and generosity.

He was responsible for the building of London's Garrick Theatre and was knighted in 1907.

His Life

• Biographies: [short version ] [long version ]
• Biographical sketch by Dr. Louis Engel, with photograph by Walery (1889)
• Article on Gilbert in Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, by David Stone
• W. S. Gilbert entry in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
• A chapter on Gilbert as a producer from the book Gilbert and Sullivan Opera, A History and a Comment , by H. M. Walbrook, (1922)
• The Genealogy of Sir W. S. Gilbert, Dramatist and Poet by C. R. Everett, F.S.G.
• Celebrities at Home: Mr. W. S. Gilbert at the Boltons, from The World, 19 May 1880.
• "The W. S. Gilbert of his own Letters" by H. Rowland Brown and Rowland Grey [Cornhill Magazine,52.308 (New Series.), Feb. 1922, pp. 159-176.]
• "The Gilbertian Idea" by H. Rowland Brown. [Cornhill Magazine, 52.308 (New Series 2.), Apr. 1922, pp. 503-512.]
• Gilbert's census returns and other public records.
• Gilbert, Author of "Pinafore" from The American Review of Reviews,
  July 1911
• Gilbert's obituary from The Times
• The wills of W. S. Gilbert and his wife, Lucy.

His Legacy

• The Gilbert and Sullivan Operas
• His Plays
• The 'Bab Ballads'
• His Short Stories and Other Prose
• Contributions to Fun (1865 - 1874) catalogued by Arthur Robinson with links to the pages.
• "Sir W. S. Gilbert as an Artist" from The Strand Magazine, Vol. 37 (Feb. 1909)
• His Illustrations of various songs from the Savoy Operas
• Images of Gilbert's original drawings for the revised Bab Ballads (1897), held at the British Museum.

Interviews — From time to time Gilbert gave interviews to the press. These have been collected and transcribed by Arthur Robinson.

Letters to Various Publications — contributed to the G&S Archive by Arthur Robinson.

Collections of Works by Gilbert (from The Internet Archive)

• Original Plays, (First Series) published by Scribner, Armstrong & Co., New York [from the Internet Archive]
• Original Plays (First Series, 1894) published by Chatto & Windus [from the Internet Archive]
• Original Plays (Second Series, 1899) published by Chatto & Windus [from the Internet Archive]
• Original Plays (Third Series, 1895) published by Chatto & Windus [from the Internet Archive]
• Original Plays (Fourth Series, 1911) published by Chatto & Windus [from the Internet Archive]
• Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs, published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia [from the Internet Archive]
• Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs, published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia [from the Internet Archive]

Books about Gilbert and the Savoy Operas (from The Internet Archive)

• Fitzgerald, P. (1894): The Savoy Opera and the Savoyards
• Edith A. Browne (1907): W. S. Gilbert
• Dark, S. & Gray, R. (1923): W. S Gilbert: HIs Life and Letters
• Fitz-Gerald, S. J. A. (1925): The Story Of The Savoy Opera in Gilbert and Sullivan Days
• Goldberg, Isaac (1913): Sir Wm. S. Gilbert; a study in modern satire; a handbook on Gilbert and the Gilbert-Sullivan operas
• Cellier and Bridgeman: Gilbert and Sullivan and their operas; with recollections and anecdotes of D'Oyly Carte & other famous Savoyards

Links

• The W. S. Gilbert Society
• Grim's Dyke Hotel Web Site — Gilbert's former home is now restored as a hotel.
  It regularly hosts Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Dinners.
• The Correspondence, Diaries, Literary Manuscripts and Prompt Copies of W S Gilbert from the British Library, London — available as microfiche reels from Adam Matthew Publications Ltd.

Page modified 17 December 2017