Novelist and critic George Bernard Shaw

william morris (left) , john ruskin: important influences on shaw s aesthetic views

in 1884 , 1885, through influence of archer, shaw engaged write book , music criticism london papers. when archer resigned art critic of world in 1886 secured succession shaw. 2 figures in contemporary art world views shaw admired william morris , john ruskin, , sought follow precepts in criticisms. emphasis on morality appealed shaw, rejected idea of art art s sake, , insisted great art must didactic.

of shaw s various reviewing activities in 1880s , 1890s music critic best known. after serving deputy in 1888, became musical critic of star in february 1889, writing under pen-name corno di bassetto. in may 1890 moved world, wrote weekly column g.b.s. more 4 years. in 2016 version of grove dictionary of music , musicians, robert anderson writes, shaw s collected writings on music stand alone in mastery of english , compulsive readability. shaw ceased salaried music critic in august 1894, published occasional articles on subject throughout career, last in 1950.

from 1895 1898, shaw theatre critic saturday review, edited friend frank harris. @ world, used by-line g.b.s. campaigned against artificial conventions , hypocrisies of victorian theatre , called plays of real ideas , true characters. time had embarked in earnest on career playwright: had rashly taken case; , rather let collapse manufactured evidence .

cite error: there <ref group=n> tags on page, references not show without {{reflist|group=n}} template (see page).