The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro

Feb 23, 2026 2:17 PM

Author:Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais

A French courtier, secret agent, libertine and adventurer, Beaumarchais (1732-99) was also author of two sparkling plays about the scoundrelly valet Figaro - triumphant successes that were used as the basis of operas by Mozart and Rossini. A highly engaging comedy of intrigue, The Barber of Seville portrays the resourceful Figaro foiling a jealous old man's attempts to keep his beautiful ward from her lover. And The Marriage of Figaro - condemned by Louis XVI for its daring satire of nobility and privilege - depicts a master and servant set in opposition by their desire for the same woman. With characteristic lightness of touch, Beaumarchais created an audacious farce of disguise and mistaken identity that balances wit, frivolity and seriousness in equal measure.

Reviews

An extraordinary novel... A beautiful tragedy and a series of painful, yet oddly exquisite surprises... Some Great Thing promises to be not just the fiction debut of the year, but also its highlight

—— John Burnside , Scotsman

This is an extraordinary, powerful novel: technically ambitious, passionate and beautifully observed, filled with the truth of human frailty, the mystery of crafts and the stark bewilderment of love

—— A. L. Kennedy

Some Great Thing is just about as fresh as it gets. Wry, harrowing, visceral, the writing bristles with imagination and intent. Colin McAdam has taken a jackhammer to the modern novel and come up with something bright and strong and new

—— Rupert Thomson

Superb...Through muscular and powerful writing, McAdam thwarts all expectations and makes his material thrum with importance, insight and sad truth...Utterly compelling from first to last

—— Daily Telegraph

'Precociously accomplished, wise, deeply moving-Perfectly pitched-A dazzling down-payment on posterity'

—— Scotland on Sunday

'McAdam's narrative weaves in virtuoso dialogue as well as genuine warmth-Exhilarating'

—— Observer

'Impressive and ambitious'

—— Independent

'A highly intelligent and moving book'

—— Time Out

Previous Article：Some Great Thing Next Article：The Sleeper Awakes

Comments

Welcome to zzdbook comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.