Merrie England

Queen Elizabeth is at odds with two women, one is a presumed witch, and the other is in love with her suitor, Sir Walter Raleigh. When she discovers their relationship, she makes a drastic emotional decision. The court of Queen Elizabeth is full of aristocrats, guards and Ladies in Waiting. Among this group is Bessie Throckmorton, who is in love with the gentleman, Sir Walter Raleigh. This is hidden from the Queen as she is also smitten by Sir Walter. When he sends a love letter to Bessie, it is intercepted by the Earl of Essex, who delivers it to the Queen. Meanwhile, a woman named Jill is condemned as a witch and forced into captivity alongside the unsuspecting Bessie. Merrie England is a two-part comic opera from Edward German and Basil Hood. Together, they deliver a story about the dangers of jealousy and unrequited love. It’s a vibrant tale enriched with historical figures and fictional details. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Merrie England is both modern and readable.

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Edward German (1862–1936) and Basil Hood (1864–1917) were famous British composers and lyricists. German wrote and played music as a child, eventually becoming a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music. Hood started in the British Army, where he initially wrote plays as a hobby. Both men created the bulk of their work during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hood wrote Gentleman Joe, the Hansom Cabbie (1895), The French Maid (1896), and Little Hans Andersen (1903). German made a name for himself with The Two Poets (1886), The Rival Poets (1901) and Tom Jones (1907).