The Works of George Bernard Shaw

by George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw created pioneering dramas that probed prevailing social problems with a vein of comedy that made their stark themes more palatable, while striving to make the world aware of the exploitation of the working classes. For the first time in digital publishing, this comprehensive eBook presents the complete fictional works of George Bernard Shaw, with every play, novel and short story, as well as featuring numerous illustrations, many rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Shaw’s life and works
* Concise introductions to the novels, plays and other texts
* ALL 72 plays, with individual contents tables
* Includes many rare dramas, available in no other collection
* All 5 novels, with individual contents tables
* Includes IMMATURITY, Shaw’s first novel, appearing here for the first time in digital publishing
* Images of how the books were first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts
* Excellent formatting of the texts
* Shaw’s scarce story collection SHORT STORIES, SCRAPS AND SHAVINGS, featuring the controversial tale ‘Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God’
* Includes almost the complete non-fiction, including Shaw’s seminal work on Ibsen
* Special criticism study on Shaw by G. K. Chesterton, evaluating Shaw’s contribution to literature
* Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres

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CONTENTS:

The Novels
IMMATURITY
THE IRRATIONAL KNOT
LOVE AMONG THE ARTISTS
CASHEL BYRON’S PROFESSION
AN UNSOCIAL SOCIALIST

The Short Stories
SHORT STORIES, SCRAPS AND SHAVINGS

The Plays
PASSION PLAY
UN PETIT DRAME
THE CASSONE
WIDOWERS’ HOUSES
THE PHILANDERER
MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION
ARMS AND THE MAN
CANDIDA
THE MAN OF DESTINY
YOU NEVER CAN TELL
THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE
THE GADFLY
CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA
CAPTAIN BRASSBOUND’S CONVERSION
THE ADMIRABLE BASHVILLE, OR CONSTANCY UNREWARDED
MAN AND SUPERMAN
JOHN BULL’S OTHER ISLAND
HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND
MAJOR BARBARA
PASSION, POISON, AND PETRIFACTION
THE DOCTOR’S DILEMMA
THE INTERLUDE AT THE PLAYHOUSE
GETTING MARRIED
THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET
PRESS CUTTINGS
FASCINATING FOUNDLING: DISGRACE TO THE AUTHOR
THE GLIMPSE OF REALITY
SUGGESTED ACT III ENDING FOR BARKER’S ‘THE MADRAS HOUSE’
MISALLIANCE
THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS
FANNY’S FIRST PLAY
ANDROCLES AND THE LION
OVERRULED: A DEMONSTRATION
BEAUTY’S DUTY
PYGMALION
GREAT CATHERINE
THE MUSIC CURE
O’FLAHERTY, V. C.
THE INCA OF PERUSALEM
AUGUSTUS DOES HIS BIT
GLASTONBURY SKIT
MACBETH SKIT
SKIT FOR THE TIPTAFT REVUE
ANNAJANSKA, THE BOLSHEVIK EMPRESS
HEARTBREAK HOUSE
BACK TO METHUSELAH: A METABIOLOGICAL PENTATEUCH
THE WAR INDEMNITIES
JITTA’S ATONEMENT
SAINT JOAN
THE YAHOOS
THE APPLE CART
TOO TRUE TO BE GOOD
VILLAGE WOOING
ON THE ROCKS
THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES
THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE
THE SIMPLETON OF THE UNEXPECTED ISLES

Genres: Classics, Plays, Novels

4917 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2014

About the author

George Bernard Shaw stands as one of the most prolific and influential intellectuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a man whose literary output was matched only by his fervent commitment to social reform. Rising from a modest background in Dublin to become a global icon of letters, Shaw redefined the purpose of the stage, transforming it from a place of mere entertainment into a forum for rigorous intellectual debate and moral inquiry. His unique "Shavian" style—characterized by sharp-witted dialogue, paradoxical reasoning, and a relentless assault on Victorian hypocrisy—ensured that his voice resonated far beyond the footlights. As a playwright, critic, and philosopher, he remains a singular figure in history, being one of only two individuals to have been honored with both a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Academy Award. This rare crossover of high-art recognition and mainstream cinematic success speaks to his versatility and the enduring relevance of his narratives. His dramatic work, which includes over sixty plays, often tackled the most pressing issues of his day, from the rigid structures of the British class system to the complexities of gender roles and the ethical dilemmas of capitalism. In masterpieces like Pygmalion, he used the science of phonetics to demonstrate the artificiality of class distinctions, a theme that would later reach millions through the musical adaptation My Fair Lady. In Man and Superman, he delved into the philosophical concepts of the "Life Force" and the evolution of the human spirit, while Major Barbara forced audiences to confront the uncomfortable relationship between religious idealism and the industrial military complex. Beyond his theatrical achievements, Shaw was a foundational force in political thought, serving as a leading light of the Fabian Society. His advocacy for gradual socialist reform, rather than violent revolution, helped shape the trajectory of modern British politics and social welfare. He was instrumental in the creation of the London School of Economics, an institution that continues to influence global policy and economic theory. Shaw was also a formidable critic, whose reviews of music and drama set new standards for the profession, characterized by an uncompromising honesty and a deep knowledge of the arts. His personal lifestyle was as distinctive as his writing; a committed vegetarian, teetotaler, and non-smoker, he lived with a disciplined focus that allowed him to remain productive well into his ninth decade. He was a man of contradictions, often engaging in provocative public discourse that challenged the status quo, even when his views sparked intense controversy. His fascination with the "Superman" archetype and his occasional support for authoritarian figures reflected a complex, often elitist worldview that sought the betterment of humanity through radical intellectual evolution. Despite these complexities, his core mission was always rooted in a profound humanitarianism and a desire to expose the delusions that prevented society from progressing. He believed that the power of the written word could strip away the masks of respectability that hid social injustice, and his plays continue to be staged worldwide because the human foibles he satirized remain as prevalent today as they were during his lifetime. By blending humor with gravity and intellect with accessibility, Shaw created a body of work that serves as both a mirror and a compass for modern civilization. His legacy is not just in the scripts he left behind, but in the very way we think about the intersection of art, politics, and the individual’s responsibility to the collective good. He remains the quintessential public intellectual, a man who never feared to speak his mind or to demand that the world become a more rational and equitable place.

Reviews

[Haoyan Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book, which have 8 of Shaw's best play, without "Man and Superman" though. I have been searching for a performance of "Man and Superman", but no luck so far. Whatever is performed in the book is rather loyal to the dialog of the book. The only thing I find lacking is the reading of the prefix and the appendix, in which Shaw have provided a lot of his thoughts, some funnier than the play itself. Overall, I really enjoyed this edition by LA Theater. I hope they have a video for sale. I am wondering if I can obtain performances of all Shaw's plays. It's rumored that he wrote 70 plays. Surely I can read, but reading is not as enjoyable as listening or watching as far as a play is concerned.

[Graham Storrs]

I didn't know what I was missing

I read this very long collection from beginning to end, discovering the brilliance of Shaw at every turn of the page. It took me a long time because there is so much here but it was worth every hour. When you consider what we are charged for modern writers of very little talent, to be able to get the complete works of a brilliant writer like Shaw for so little is astonishing. Yes, the collection could have been better edited -- in some places, much better -- but, if you can get past that imperfection, this collection is a trove of some of literature's finest pieces.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites. Shaw is captivating in his interpretation and perception of human relationships.

[Smita Jha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to navigate collection

I don't need to rate Shaw. He's brilliant. This kindle edition is simple to navigate and easy to use as you move from Play to play and act to act.

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating for Pygmalion.