The Heaviest of Swells

Sweet Isabella

Published: C. Sheard - July 1867

Music: Alfred Lee

Lyrics: George Leybourne

Sweet Isabella - Set at the time of the 1867 Paris World Exposition, Alfred Concanen’s cover illustration has many interesting character details of the protagonist in this dramatic, and heavily plotted, song. The gloves, are an interesting comic / tragic addition, adding a menacing extension to any pointing gesture made. This sort of glove can be seen in use in a purely comedic way in the 1939 Astaire and Rogers ‘bio-pic,’ The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.

More details are given in The Heaviest of Swells Vol I.