The Cottagers

The Cottagers is a two-act comic opera written by Anna Ross and first published in 1788. The story is set in a rural village in England and revolves around the lives of two cottagers, Tom and Margery, who are struggling to make ends meet. Tom is a lazy and irresponsible man who spends most of his time drinking and gambling, while Margery is a hardworking and virtuous woman who tries to keep their home and farm running smoothly.The plot of the opera follows the arrival of a wealthy landowner, Sir William Wealthy, who is seeking to purchase Tom and Margery's cottage and land. Sir William is accompanied by his daughter, Miss Wealthy, who falls in love with Tom despite his flaws. Meanwhile, Margery catches the eye of Sir William's steward, Mr. Worthy, who is also interested in buying the cottage.As the story unfolds, the characters engage in a series of humorous misunderstandings and mishaps, including mistaken identities and romantic entanglements. Ultimately, the opera concludes with a happy ending as Tom and Margery are able to keep their cottage and land, and the various romantic pairings are resolved.The Cottagers was well-received upon its initial publication and has since been considered a notable example of 18th-century English comic opera. Its themes of social class, love, and morality continue to resonate with modern audiences.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.