In The Follies of a Day, readers follow the comical drama of the Count, the Countess, Figaro, Bartholo, and Basilio in the second installment of 3 plays. Following The Barber of Seville, Figaro is a devious schemer, but in terms of plot, his own plans fail and confound him every time.

Volume 16 completes the magisterial Biographical Dictionary which provides information on some 8,500 of the people who contributed to the patent theatres, opera houses, fair booths, concert halls, and pleasure gardens in and around London during the period from 1660 to 1800. The final volume centers on Margaret Woffington, "the most beautiful woman that ever adorned a theatre" (the judgment of Thomas Davies--evidenced by the nine included portraits). Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR