Works George Bernard Shaw

1 works

1.1 plays

1.1.1 works
1.1.2 1900–1909
1.1.3 1910–1919
1.1.4 1920–1950


1.2 music , drama reviews

1.2.1 music
1.2.2 drama


1.3 political , social writings
1.4 fiction
1.5 letters , diaries
1.6 miscellaneous , autobiographical

works

plays

shaw published collected edition of plays in 1934, comprising forty-two works. wrote further twelve in remaining sixteen years of life, one-act pieces. including 8 earlier plays chose omit published works, total sixty-two.

early works

shaw s first 3 full-length plays dealt social issues. later grouped them plays unpleasant . widower s houses (1892) concerns landlords of slum properties, , introduces first of shaw s new women—a recurring feature of later plays. philanderer (1893) develops theme of new woman, draws on ibsen, , has elements of shaw s personal relationships, character of julia being based on jenny patterson. in 2003 study judith evans describes mrs warren s profession (1893) undoubtedly challenging of 3 plays unpleasant, taking mrs warren s profession—prostitute and, later, brothel-owner—as metaphor prostituted society.

shaw followed first trilogy second, published plays pleasant . arms , man (1894) conceals beneath mock-ruritanian comic romance fabian parable contrasting impractical idealism pragmatic socialism. central theme of candida (1894) woman s choice between 2 men; play contrasts outlook , aspirations of christian socialist , poetic idealist. third of pleasant group, never can tell (1896), portrays social mobility, , gap between generations, particularly in how approach social relations in general , mating in particular.

the 3 plays puritans —comprising devil s disciple (1896), caesar , cleopatra (1898) , captain brassbound s conversion (1899)—all centre on questions of empire , imperialism, major topic of political discourse in 1890s. 3 set, respectively, in 1770s america, ancient egypt, , 1890s morocco. gadfly, adaptation of popular novel ethel voynich, unfinished , unperformed. man of destiny (1895) short curtain raiser napoleon.

1900–1909

shaw s major plays of first decade of twentieth century address individual social, political or ethical issues. man , superman (1902) stands apart others in both subject , treatment, giving shaw s interpretation of creative evolution in combination of drama , associated printed text. admirable bashville (1901), blank verse dramatisation of shaw s novel cashel byron s profession, focuses on imperial relationship between britain , africa. john bull s other island (1904), comically depicting prevailing relationship between britain , ireland, popular @ time fell out of general repertoire in later years. major barbara (1905) presents ethical questions in unconventional way, confounding expectations in depiction of armaments manufacturer on 1 hand , salvation army on other moral high ground must invariably held latter. doctor s dilemma (1906), play medical ethics , moral choices in allocating scarce treatment, described shaw tragedy. reputation presenting characters did not resemble real flesh , blood, challenged archer present on-stage death, , here did so, deathbed scene anti-hero.

getting married (1908) , misalliance (1909)—the latter seen judith evans companion piece former—are both in shaw called disquisitionary vein, emphasis on discussion of ideas rather on dramatic events or vivid characterisation. shaw wrote 7 short plays during decade; comedies, ranging deliberately absurd passion, poison, , petrifaction (1905) satirical press cuttings (1909).

1910–1919

in decade 1910 aftermath of first world war shaw wrote 4 full-length plays, third , fourth of among staged works. fanny s first play (1911) continues earlier examinations of middle-class british society fabian viewpoint, additional touches of melodrama , epilogue in theatre critics discuss play. androcles , lion (1912), shaw began writing play children, became study of nature of religion , how put christian precepts practice. pygmalion (1912) shavian study of language , speech , importance in society , in personal relationships. correct impression left original performers play portrayed romantic relationship between 2 main characters shaw rewrote ending make clear heroine marry another, minor character. shaw s full-length play war years heartbreak house (1917), in words depicts cultured, leisured europe before war drifting towards disaster. shaw named shakespeare (king lear) , chekhov (the cherry orchard) important influences on piece, , critics have found elements drawing on congreve (the way of world) , ibsen (the master builder).

the short plays range genial historical drama in dark lady of sonnets , great catherine (1910 , 1913) study of polygamy in overruled; 3 satirical works war (the inca of perusalem, o flaherty v.c. , augustus bit, 1915–16); piece shaw called utter nonsense (the music cure, 1914) , brief sketch bolshevik empress (annajanska, 1917).

1920–1950

saint joan (1923) drew widespread praise both shaw , sybil thorndike, whom wrote title role , created part in britain. in view of commentator nicholas grene, shaw s joan, no-nonsense mystic, protestant , nationalist before time among 20th century s classic leading female roles. apple cart (1929), shaw s last popular success. gave both play , successor, true (1931), subtitle political extravaganza , although 2 works differ in themes; first presents politics of nation (with brief royal love-scene interlude) , second, in judith evans s words, concerned social mores of individual, , nebulous. shaw s plays of 1930s written in shadow of worsening national , international political events. once again, on rocks (1933) , simpleton of unexpected isles (1934), political comedy clear plot followed introspective drama. first play portrays british prime minister considering, rejecting, establishment of dictatorship; second concerned polygamy , eugenics , ends day of judgement.

the millionairess (1934) farcical depiction of commercial , social affairs of successful businesswoman. geneva (1936) lampoons feebleness of league of nations compared dictators of europe. in king charles s golden days (1939), described weintraub warm, discursive high comedy, depicts authoritarianism, less satirically geneva. in earlier decades, shorter plays comedies, historical , others addressing various political , social preoccupations of author. ervine writes of shaw s later work although still astonishingly vigorous , vivacious showed unmistakable signs of age. best of work in period, however, full of wisdom , beauty of mind displayed old men keep wits them.

music , drama reviews
music

shaw s collected musical criticism, published in 3 volumes, runs more 2,700 pages. covers british musical scene 1876 1950, core of collection dates 6 years music critic of star , world in late 1880s , 1890s. in view music criticism should interesting rather musical élite, , wrote non-specialist, avoiding technical jargon— mesopotamian words dominant of d major . fiercely partisan in columns, promoting music of wagner , decrying of brahms , british composers such stanford , parry whom saw brahmsian. campaigned against prevailing fashion performances of handel oratorios huge amateur choirs , inflated orchestration, calling chorus of twenty capable artists . railed against opera productions unrealistically staged or sung in languages audience did not speak.

drama

in shaw s view, london theatres of 1890s presented many revivals of old plays , not enough new work. campaigned against melodrama, sentimentality, stereotypes , worn-out conventions . music critic had been able concentrate on analysing new works, in theatre obliged fall on discussing how various performers tackled well-known plays. in study of shaw s work theatre critic, e. j. west writes shaw ceaselessly compared , contrasted artists in interpretation , in technique . shaw contributed more 150 articles theatre critic saturday review, in assessed more 212 productions. championed ibsen s plays when many theatregoers regarded them outrageous, , 1891 book quintessence of ibsenism remained classic throughout twentieth century. of contemporary dramatists writing west end stage rated oscar wilde above rest: ... our thorough playwright. plays everything: wit, philosophy, drama, actors , audience, whole theatre . shaw s collected criticisms published our theatres in nineties in 1932.

shaw maintained provocative , self-contradictory attitude shakespeare (whose name insisted on spelling shakespear ). many found him difficult take on subject; duff cooper observed attacking shakespeare, shaw appears ridiculous pigmy shaking fist @ mountain. shaw was, nevertheless, knowledgeable shakespearian, , in article in wrote, single exception of homer, there no eminent writer, not sir walter scott, whom can despise entirely despise shakespear when measure mind against his, said, bound add pity man cannot enjoy shakespear. has outlasted thousands of abler thinkers, , outlast thousand more . shaw had 2 regular targets more extreme comments shakespeare: undiscriminating bardolaters , , actors , directors presented insensitively cut texts in over-elaborate productions. continually drawn shakespeare, , wrote 3 plays shakespearean themes: dark lady of sonnets, cymbeline refinished , shakes versus shav. in 2001 analysis of shaw s shakespearian criticisms, robert pierce concludes shaw, no academic, saw shakespeare s plays—like theatre—from author s practical point of view: shaw helps away romantics picture of shakespeare titanic genius, 1 art cannot analyzed or connected mundane considerations of theatrical conditions , profit , loss, or specific staging , cast of actors.

political , social writings

shaw s political , social commentaries published variously in fabian tracts, in essays, in 2 full-length books, in innumerable newspaper , journal articles , in prefaces plays. majority of shaw s fabian tracts published anonymously, representing voice of society rather of shaw, although society s secretary edward pease later confirmed shaw s authorship. according holroyd, business of fabians, under influence of shaw, alter history rewriting . shaw s talent pamphleteer put immediate use in production of society s manifesto—after which, says holroyd, never again succinct.

shaw in 1905

after turn of twentieth century, shaw increasingly propagated ideas through medium of plays. critic, writing in 1904, observed shaw s dramas provided pleasant means of proselytising socialism, adding mr shaw s views sought in prefaces plays . after loosening ties fabian movement in 1911, shaw s writings more personal , provocative; response furore following issue of common sense war in 1914, prepare sequel, more common sense war. in this, denounced pacifist line espoused ramsay macdonald , other socialist leaders, , proclaimed readiness shoot pacifists rather cede them power , influence. on advice of beatrice webb, pamphlet remained unpublished.

the intelligent woman s guide, shaw s main political treatise of 1920s, attracted both admiration , criticism. macdonald considered world s important book since bible; harold laski thought arguments outdated , lacking in concern individual freedoms. shaw s increasing flirtation dictatorial methods evident in many of subsequent pronouncements. new york times report dated 10 december 1933 quoted recent fabian society lecture in shaw had praised hitler, mussolini , stalin: [t]hey trying done, [and] adopting methods possible done . late second world war, in s political s what, shaw blamed allies abuse of 1918 victory rise of hitler, , hoped that, after defeat, führer escape retribution enjoy comfortable retirement in ireland or other neutral country . these sentiments, according irish philosopher-poet thomas duddy, rendered of shavian outlook passé , contemptible .

creative evolution , shaw s version of new science of eugenics, became increasing theme in political writing after 1900. introduced theories in revolutionist s handbook (1903), appendix man , superman, , developed them further during 1920s in methuselah. 1946 life magazine article observed shaw had tended @ people more biologist artist . 1933, in preface on rocks, writing if desire type of civilization , culture must exterminate sort of people not fit ; critical opinion divided on whether intended irony. in article in american magazine liberty in september 1938, shaw included statement: there many people in world ought liquidated . many commentators assumed such comments intended joke, although in worst possible taste. otherwise, life magazine concluded, silliness can classed more innocent bad guesses .

fiction

shaw s fiction-writing largely confined 5 unsuccessful novels written in period 1879–1885. immaturity (1879) semi-autobiographical portrayal of mid-victorian england, shaw s own david copperfield according weintraub. irrational knot (1880) critique of conventional marriage, in weintraub finds characterisations lifeless, hardly more animated theories . shaw pleased third novel, love among artists (1881), feeling marked turning point in development thinker, although had no more success predecessors. cashel byron s profession (1882) is, says weintraub, indictment of society anticipates shaw s first full-length play, mrs warren s profession. shaw later explained had intended unsocial socialist first section of monumental depiction of downfall of capitalism. gareth griffith, in study of shaw s political thought, sees novel interesting record of conditions, both in society @ large , in nascent socialist movement of 1880s.

shaw s subsequent fiction of substance 1932 novella adventures of black girl in search god, written during visit south africa in 1932. eponymous girl, intelligent, inquisitive, , converted christianity insubstantial missionary teaching, sets out find god, on journey after many adventures , encounters, leads secular conclusion. story, on publication, offended christians , banned in ireland board of censors.

letters , diaries

strenuous literary life—george bernard shaw @ work : 1904 caricature

shaw prolific correspondent throughout life. letters, edited dan h. laurence, published between 1965 , 1988. shaw once estimated letters occupy twenty volumes; laurence commented that, unedited, fill many more. shaw wrote more quarter of million letters, of ten per cent have survived; 2,653 letters printed in laurence s 4 volumes. among shaw s many regular correspondents childhood friend edward mcnulty; theatrical colleagues (and amitiés amoureuses) mrs patrick campbell , ellen terry; writers including lord alfred douglas, h. g. wells , g. k. chesterton; boxer gene tunney; nun laurentia mclachlan; , art expert sydney cockerell. in 2007 316-page volume consisting entirely of shaw s letters times published.

shaw s diaries 1885–1897, edited weintraub, published in 2 volumes, total of 1,241 pages, in 1986. reviewing them, shaw scholar fred crawford wrote: although primary interest shavians material supplements know shaw s life , work, diaries valuable historical , sociological document of english life @ end of victorian age. after 1897, pressure of other writing led shaw give keeping diary.

miscellaneous , autobiographical

through journalism, pamphlets , occasional longer works, shaw wrote on many subjects. range of interest , enquiry included vivisection, vegetarianism, religion, language, cinema , photography, on of wrote , spoke copiously. collections of writings on these , other subjects published, after death, volumes of selected aphorisms, wit , wisdom , general journalism.

despite many books written him (holroyd counts 80 1939) shaw s autobiographical output, apart diaries, relatively slight. gave interviews newspapers— gbs confesses , daily mail in 1904 example—and provided sketches would-be biographers work rejected shaw , never published. in 1939 shaw drew on these materials produce shaw gives himself away, miscellany which, year before death, revised , republished sixteen self sketches (there seventeen). made clear publishers slim book in no sense full autobiography.

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