"The Barber of Seville" (1775) was originally a comic opera, or a mixture of spoken play with music. The story was based on an ill-fated alliance between Beaumarchais' sister and Jose Clavijo, a Spanish writer.

His works include: The Barber of Seville; or, The Useless Precaution (1773) and The Follies of a Day; or, The Marriage of Figaro (1778).

First produced at the Odéon in 1784 The Marriage of Figaro,the second play of Beaumarchais' trilogy was an instant success and ran for an unprecedented 116 performances.

Fast-moving and brisk, and filled with wit, humor, and gaiety, the sheer fun of the Barber assures its immortality.

This volume, the first compilation of the political correspondence of Beaumarchais, author of the Marriage of Figaro, will shed light on the controversial diplomatic history of the American Revolution.

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This lively new translation catches all the zest and energy of the most famous valet in French literature. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe.