Bernard Shaw Libri

Pygmalion, Heartbreak House, and Saint Joan are widely considered to be three of the most important in the canon of modern British theatre

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Renowned for his sharp wit and incisive satire, George Bernard Shaw crafts plays that challenge societal norms and provoke moral contemplation. This collection features thirty-four of his most compelling works, showcasing his talent for exposing hypocrisy through intelligent and often humorous narratives. Readers can expect a thought-provoking experience filled with clever dialogue and biting commentary, making it a treasure trove for fans of classic theater.

An influential figure in drama, George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and critic known for his over sixty plays that blend comedy with serious themes. His self-education and early struggles in publishing shaped his unique voice, leading to significant acclaim. Shaw's work often conveyed earnest messages beneath a humorous exterior. He is notably recognized for receiving both a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Oscar, highlighting his remarkable contributions to both literature and film.

Set in Victorian England, this satirical comedy delves into the complexities of relationships and gender roles through the character of Leonard Charteris, a charming and unconventional young man. As he navigates love, marriage, and fidelity, the play critiques societal norms and expectations, offering a humorous yet thought-provoking exploration of romantic entanglements.

George Bernard Shaw's public career began in arts journalism - as an art critic, a music critic, and, most famously, a drama critic - and he continued writing on cultural and artistic matters throughout his life. His total output of essays and reviews numbers in the hundreds, dwarfing even his prolific playwriting career. This volume of Shaw's Major Cultural Essays introduces readers to the wealth and diversity of Shaw's cultural writings from across the breadth of his professional life, beginning around 1890 and ending in 1950. Topics covered include the theatre, of course, but also music, opera, poetry, the novel, the visual arts, philosophy, censorship, and education. Major figures discussed at length in these works include Ibsen, Wagner, Nietzsche, Shakespeare, Wilde, Mozart, Beethoven, Keats, Rodin, Zola, Ruskin, Dickens, Tolstoy, and Poe, among many others. Coursing with Shavian flair and vigor, these essays showcase the author's broad aesthetic sensibilities, trace the intersection of culture and politics in Shaw's worldview, and provide a fascinating window into the vibrant cultural moment of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The ancient Greeks tell the legend of the sculptor Pygmalion, who created a statue of a woman of such surpassing beauty that he fell in love with his own creation. Then, Aphrodite, taking pity on this man whose love could not reach beyond the barrier of stone, brought the statue to life and gave her to Pygmalion as his bride. Centuries later, George Bernard Shaw captured the magic of this legend in his celebrated play, Pygmalion. Pygmalion became Henry Higgins, a professor of phonetics, his statue an untutored flower girl from the streets of London, and the barrier between them is class.. Shaw expected Eliza to end up with Freddy and run a flower shop.In My Fair Lady, Alan Jay Lerner takes the legend one step further—the barrier is swept away and Higgins and Eliza are reunited as the curtain falls on one of the loveliest musical plays of our time—winning seven Tonys® for its original Broadway production, and seven Oscars® for its film adaptation.--back cover