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Title: Gil Blas, or the Fool of Fortune. A... pantomimic entertainment in two parts, etc. Publisher: British Library, Historical Print Editions The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is one of the world's largest research libraries holding over 150 million items in all known languages and formats: books, journals, newspapers, sound recordings, patents, maps, stamps, prints and much more. Its collections include around 14 million books, along with substantial additional collections of manuscripts and historical items dating back as far as 300 BC. The FICTION & PROSE LITERATURE collection includes books from the British Library digitised by Microsoft. The collection provides readers with a perspective of the world from some of the 18th and 19th century's most talented writers. Written for a range of audiences, these works are a treasure for any curious reader looking to see the world through the eyes of ages past. Beyond the main body of works the collection also includes song-books, comedy, and works of satire. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification: ++++ British Library Bates, W.; 1788.]. 32 p.; 8º. 11779.c.88.(4.)
A tale of fortune and folly unfolds as the ambitious Gil Blas navigates the treacherous social landscape of 18th-century Spain. Gil Blas, a young man of humble origins, seeks to rise above his station through wit and cunning, often employing deception to achieve his goals. He encounters a series of masters, each representing a different facet of society, from a blind beggar to a corrupt archbishop, and a noble patron. The narrative framework is that of a picaresque novel, following the episodic adventures and moral compromises of its roguish protagonist as he attempts to find his place and fortune.
The original 'Gil Blas' by Alain-René Lesage is a foundational work of the picaresque novel, celebrated for its sharp social satire and its portrayal of a complex, morally ambiguous protagonist. This adaptation, presented as a 'pantomimic entertainment,' likely translates the novel's narrative and satirical elements into a visual and performative format. The focus would be on the episodic adventures and the protagonist's often questionable methods for social climbing, offering a critique of societal structures through humor and character interaction. The reception of such an adaptation would depend on its faithfulness to the spirit of the original while effectively utilizing the conventions of pantomime.
Page Count:
44
Publication Date:
2011-03-16
Publisher:
British Library, Historical Print Editions
ISBN-10:
1241175020
ISBN-13:
9781241175023
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