Bernard Shaw: An Unauthorized Biography Based On First Hand Information

by Frank Harris, Alexander Berkman, Frank Scully

CONTENTS Credentials by Bernard Shaw - Introduction by Frank Harris - Shaw, Then and Now - Ireland in the Sixties - The Genteel Shaws - His Mother's People - The Innocent Triangle - Boyhood in Dublin - And So to Work - Lean Years in London - The Critic - Seeing Red - The Playwright - Censors - Theatre Vicissitudes - Shaw's Women - The Male Flirt Marries - Experiences with Actresses - Shaw's Sex Credo -Technique - Greater than Shakespeare? - Fights and Friendships - In War and Peace - Religion - The Saint Joan Row -Attitude Toward America - Summer of Success - Future - Postscript by the Subject of this Memoir

430 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1931

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Frank Harris was an editor, journalist and publisher, who was friendly with many well-known figures of his day. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to America early in life, working in a variety of unskilled jobs before attending the University of Kansas to read law. He eventually became a citizen there. After graduation he quickly tired of his legal career and returned to Europe in 1882.

He travelled on continental Europe before settling in London to pursue a career in journalism. Though he attracted much attention during his life for his irascible, aggressive personality, editorship of famous periodicals, and friendship with the talented and famous, he is remembered mainly for his multiple-volume memoir My Life and Loves, which was banned in countries around the world for its sexual explicitness.

Reviews

[Uldis Lazdiņš · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I got bored of some longer paragraphs at some points in the book, it was still a very interesting read. What made G. B. S. the person he was as was witnessed by Frank Harris? His childhood, surrounding environment, friends. What made him as a writer? His social, political, and philosophical beliefs. Among other things.
I have not read any biographies before, but what stood out from my point of view as compared to the books I have read before were the actual letter conversations between F. H. and G. B. S. I do not know if writers nowadays write such long letters to each other anymore. These kinds of letter conversations are, I think, unique to the 19th century.
Overall - I liked the way this Playwright was painted in the book.
+ there were some thoughts that made me stop for a while and think how much I believe them or not.

[Saket Suryesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Most Biographies are written by men in awe of the the subject. This one escapes adulation But is reflective of the times Shaw lived in.