Literary Classics

The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw: Plays, Novels, Articles, Lectures, Letters and Essays (Annotated)

Enriched Edition. Drama, novels, essays, political satire, and literary criticismBy George Bernard Shaw

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The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw gathers the astonishing range of Shaw's dramatic, fictional, critical, and polemical writing, revealing a mind for whom literature was inseparable from public argument. From the paradoxical wit and social satire of the plays to the essays, lectures, articles, letters, and early novels, the volume situates Shaw within the currents of late Victorian and modernist debate: socialism, feminism, religion, art, war, medicine, and the ethics of progress. His style is unmistakable—lucid, combative, comic, and dialectical, turning conversation into intellectual theatre. George Bernard Shaw, Irish-born dramatist, critic, and Nobel laureate, was shaped by Dublin Protestant culture, London journalism, music criticism, and his commitment to Fabian socialism. His distrust of conventional morality and his belief in social reform made him a writer of ideas as much as of characters. The breadth of this collection reflects a career devoted to challenging inherited assumptions and educating the public through wit. This collection is ideal for readers seeking not merely Shaw's famous plays but the full architecture of his thought. Scholars, students, and intellectually curious readers will find here an indispensable record of one of the sharpest literary consciences of the modern age. This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience. - An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection. - Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer. - A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists. - A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds. - Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.

Political Intrigue Satire Identity Rebellion Hidden Identity Historical Romance Psychological

Audiobook details

GenreLiterary Classics

Length257 hrs 23 mins

Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices

FormateBook with Audio

Publish dateApr 12, 2015

LanguageEnglish

1The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw: Plays, Novels, Articles, Lectures, Letters and Essays (Annotated)

241INCA OF PERUSALEM (PLAY)

2Introduction

242Augustus Does His Bit (1916)

3Historical Context

243PREFACE

4Synopsis (Selection)

244AUGUSTUS DOES HIS BIT (PLAY)

5Mr. Bernard Shaw (Introduction by G. K. Chesterton)

245Skit For The Tiptaft Revue (1917)

Show all chapters

6Cashel Byron’s Profession (1886)

246Annajanska, The Bolshevik Empress (1917)

7PROLOGUE

247ANNAJANSKA, THE BOLSHEVIK EMPRESS (PLAY)

8CHAPTER I

248Heartbreak House (1919)

9CHAPTER II

249HEARTBREAK HOUSE AND HORSEBACK HALL

10CHAPTER III

250ACT I

11CHAPTER IV

251ACT II

12CHAPTER V

252ACT III

13CHAPTER VI

253Back To Methuselah: A Metabiological Pentateuch (1921)

14CHAPTER VII

254PREFACE (pt. 1)

15CHAPTER VIII

255PREFACE (pt. 2)

16CHAPTER IX

256PART I. In the Beginning

17CHAPTER X

257PART II. The Gospel of the Brothers Barnabas

18CHAPTER XI

258PART III. The Thing Happens

19CHAPTER XII

259PART IV. Tragedy of an Elderly Gentleman (pt. 1)

20CHAPTER XIII

260PART IV. Tragedy of an Elderly Gentleman (pt. 2)

21CHAPTER XIV

261PART V. As Far as Thought Can Reach

22CHAPTER XV

262The War Indemnities (unfinished) (1921)

23CHAPTER XVI

263Saint Joan (1924)

24An Unsocial Socialist (1887)

264Preface

25CHAPTER I

265SCENE I

26CHAPTER II

266SCENE II

27CHAPTER III

267SCENE III

28CHAPTER IV

268SCENE IV

29CHAPTER V

269SCENE V

30CHAPTER VI

270SCENE VI

31CHAPTER VII

271EPILOGUE

32CHAPTER VIII

272The Glimpse Of Reality: A Tragedietta (1926)

33CHAPTER IX

273Fascinating Foundling: Disgrace To The Author (1926)

34CHAPTER X

274The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza (1929)

35CHAPTER XI

275Preface

36CHAPTER XII

276ACT I

37CHAPTER XIII

277AN INTERLUDE

38CHAPTER XIV

278ACT II

39CHAPTER XV

279Mr Shaw Replies to His Critics

40CHAPTER XVI

280A Walk and a Talk with Mr Shaw

41CHAPTER XVII

281Bernard Shaw's Denial

42CHAPTER XVIII

282Mr Shaw and Democracy

43APPENDIX LETTER TO THE AUTHOR FROM MR. SIDNEY TREFUSIS.

283The Apple-Cart Again

44Love Among The Artists (1914)

284Too True to Be Good (1932)

45The Author to the Reader

285Preface

46BOOK I

286ACT I

47CHAPTER I

287ACT II

48CHAPTER II

288ACT III

49CHAPTER III

289From the Malvern Festival Book, 1932

50CHAPTER IV

290Why "Too True to be Good" Failed: A Moral in Favour of a National Theatre

51CHAPTER V

291Village Wooing: A Comedietta for Two Voices (1933)

52CHAPTER VI

292FIRST CONVERSATION

53CHAPTER VII

293SECOND CONVERSATION

54CHAPTER VIII

294THIRD CONVERSATION

55CHAPTER IX

295On the Rocks: A Political Comedy (1933)

56CHAPTER X

296Preface

57CHAPTER XI

297ACT I

58CHAPTER XII

298ACT II

59CHAPTER XIII

299Shaw Answers Some Questions

60CHAPTER XIV

300The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles (1934)

61BOOK II

301Preface on Days of Judgment

62CHAPTER I

302PROLOGUE

63CHAPTER II

303SCENE II

64CHAPTER III

304SCENE III

65CHAPTER IV

305The Simple Truth of the Matter

66The Irrational Knot (1880)

306The Six of Calais (1934)

67PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION OF 1905

307Prefatory Note

68BOOK I

308THE SIX OF CALAIS

69CHAPTER I

309Author's Note

70CHAPTER II

310Arthur and the Acetone (1936)

71CHAPTER III

311The Millionairess (1936)

72CHAPTER IV

312PREFACE ON BOSSES

73CHAPTER V

313ACT I

74CHAPTER VI

314ACT II

75BOOK II

315ACT III

76CHAPTER VII

316ACT IV

77CHAPTER VIII

317Cymbeline Refinished: A Variation on Shakespeare’s Ending (1937)

78CHAPTER IX

318Geneva (1938)

79CHAPTER X

319Preface

80CHAPTER XI

320ACT I

81BOOK III

321ACT II

82CHAPTER XII

322ACT III

83CHAPTER XIII

323ACT IV

84CHAPTER XIV

324Author's Note

85CHAPTER XV

325New Shaw Play and Germany

86CHAPTER XVI

326For the Press

87CHAPTER XVII

327Telescoping "Geneva"

88BOOK IV

328Further Meditations on Shaw's "Geneva" by Shaw

89CHAPTER XVIII

329“In Good King Charles’ Golden Days” (1939)

90CHAPTER XIX

330Preface

91CHAPTER XX

331ACT I

92CHAPTER XXI

332ACT II

93Widowers’ Houses (1892)

333Playlet on the British Party System (1944)

94ACT I

334Buoyant Billions: A Comedy of No Manners (1948)

95ACT II

335Preface

96ACT III

336ACT I THE WORLD BETTERER

97The Philanderer (1898)

337ACT II THE ADVENTURE

98ACT I

338ACT III THE DISCUSSION

99ACT II

339ACT IV THE END

100ACT III

340The Author Explains

101ACT IV

341Shakes versus Shav (1949)

102Mrs. Warren’s Profession (1898)

342Farfetched Fables (1948-1950)

103THE AUTHOR’S APOLOGY

343Preface, § i

104ACT I

344Preface, § ii

105ACT II

345Preface, § iii

106ACT III

346Preface, § iv

107ACT IV

347First Fable

108The Man Of Destiny (1897)

348Second Fable

109Arms And The Man: An Anti-Romantic Comedy in Three Acts (1894)

349Third Fable

110INTRODUCTION

350Fourth Fable

111ACT I

351Fifth Fable

112ACT II

352Sixth and Last Fable

113ACT III

353Why She Would Not (1950)

114Candida (1898)

354SCENE I

115ACT I

355SCENE II

116ACT II

356SCENE III

117ACT III

357SCENE IV

118You Never Can Tell (1897)

358SCENE V

119ACT I

359What do Men of Letters Say? - The New York Times Articles on War (1915)

120ACT II

360"Common Sense About the War" by G. B. Shaw (pt. 1)

121ACT III

361"Common Sense About the War" by G. B. Shaw (pt. 2)

122ACT IV

362"Shaw's Nonsense About Belgium" By Arnold Bennett

123The Devil’s Disciple (1897)

363"Bennett States the German Case" by G. B. Shaw

124ACT I

364Flaws in Shaw's Logic By Cunninghame Graham

125ACT II

365Editorial Comment on Shaw By The New York World

126ACT III

366Shaw Empty of Good Sense By Christabel Pankhurst

127NOTES TO THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE

367Comment by Readers of Shaw To the Editor of The New York Times

128Captain Brassbound’s Conversion (1900)

368Open Letter to President Wilson[1] by G. B. Shaw

129ACT I

369A German Letter to G. Bernard Shaw By Herbert Eulenberg

130ACT II

370Do We Agree?: A debate between G. B. Shaw and G. K Chesterton (1928)

131ACT III

371A Prefatory Note

132NOTES TO CAPTAIN BRASSBOUND’S CONVERSION

372Introductory remarks by Mr. Belloc

133Caesar And Cleopatra: A History (1901)

373Opening statements

134PROLOGUE

374Second speeches

135AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROLOGUE

375Concluding remarks

136ACT I

376On Socialism: A Speech (1885)

137ACT II

377The Miraculous Revenge

138ACT III

378Quintessence Of Ibsenism (1891)

139ACT IV

379PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION

140ACT V

380PREFACE: 1913

141NOTES TO CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA

381PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

142The Gadfly Or The Son of the Cardinal (1898)

382THE TWO PIONEERS

143ACT I.

383IDEALS AND IDEALISTS

144ACT II.

384THE WOMANLY WOMAN

145ACT III.

385THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ANTI-IDEALIST: EXTRAVAGANZAS

146ACT IV.

386THE OBJECTIVE ANTI-IDEALIST PLAYS

147The Admirable Bashville Or Constancy Unrewarded (1901)

387THE LAST FOUR PLAYS DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN

148PREFACE

388THE LESSON OF THE PLAYS

149ACT I

389WHAT IS THE NEW ELEMENT IN THE NORWEGIAN SCHOOL?

150ACT II

390THE TECHNICAL NOVELTY IN IBSEN’S PLAYS

151ACT IV

391NEEDED: AN IBSEN THEATRE

152NOTE ON MODERN PRIZEFIGHTING

392The Basis of Socialism Economic (1891)

153Man And Superman: A Comedy and A Philosophy (1903)

393The Transition to Social Democracy (1891)*21

154EPISTLE DEDICATORY TO ARTHUR BINGHAM WALKLEY

394The Impossibilities Of Anarchism (1895)

155ACT I

395Anarchists and Socialists

156ACT II

396Individualist Anarchism

157ACT III (pt. 1)

397Communist Anarchism

158ACT III (pt. 2)

398Democracy

159ACT IV

399The Anarchist Spirit

160John Bull’s Other Island (1904)

400The Perfect Wagnerite, Commentary on the Niblung’s Ring (1898)

161ACT I

401PREFACE TO THE FIRST GERMAN EDITION

162ACT II

402PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

163ACT III

403PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

164ACT IV

404PRELIMINARY ENCOURAGEMENTS

165How He Lied To Her Husband (1904)

405THE RING OF THE NIBLUNGS

166PREFACE

406THE RHINE GOLD

167HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND (PLAY)

407WAGNER AS REVOLUTIONIST

168Major Barbara (1905)

408THE VALKYRIES

169PREFACE TO MAJOR BARBARA: FIRST AID TO CRITICS

409SIEGFRIED

170ACT I

410BACK TO OPERA AGAIN

171ACT II

411SIEGFRIED AS PROTESTANT

172ACT III

412PANACEA QUACKERY, OTHERWISE IDEALISM

173Passion, Poison, And Petrifaction (1905)

413DRAMATIC ORIGIN OF WOTAN

174The Doctor’s Dilemma: A Tragedy (1906)

414THE LOVE PANACEA

175PREFACE (pt. 1)

415NOT LOVE, BUT LIFE

176PREFACE (pt. 2)

416ANARCHISM NO PANACEA

177ACT I

417SIEGFRIED CONCLUDED

178ACT II

418NIGHT FALLS ON THE GODS

179ACT III

419A WAGNERIAN NEWSPAPER CONTROVERSY

180ACT IV

420FORGOTTEN ERE FINISHED

181ACT V

421WHY HE CHANGED HIS MIND

182The Interlude At The Playhouse (1907)

422WAGNER’S OWN EXPLANATION

183Getting Married (1908)

423THE PESSIMIST AS AMORIST

184PREFACE TO GETTING MARRIED (pt. 1)

424THE MUSIC OF THE RING

185PREFACE TO GETTING MARRIED (pt. 2)

425THE CHARACTERIZATION

186GETTING MARRIED (PLAY) (pt. 1)

426THE OLD AND THE NEW MUSIC

187GETTING MARRIED (PLAY) (pt. 2)

427THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

188The Shewing-Up Of Blanco Posnet (1909)

428THE MUSIC OF THE FUTURE

189PREFACE

429BAYREUTH

190PREFACE RESUMED

430BAYREUTH IN ENGLAND

191THE SHEWING-UP OF BLANCO POSNET (PLAY)

431WAGNERIAN SINGERS

192Press Cuttings (1909)

432Letter to Beatrice Webb (1898)

193Suggested Act III Ending For Barker’s ‘The Madras House

433The Revolutionist’s Handbook And Pocket Companion (1903)

194Misalliance (1910)

434PREFACE TO THE REVOLUTIONIST’S HANDBOOK

195PREFACE: PARENTS AND CHILDREN (pt. 1)

435FOREWORD

196PREFACE: PARENTS AND CHILDREN (pt. 2)

436AND YET

197MISALLIANCE (PLAY) (pt. 1)

437I. ON GOOD BREEDING

198MISALLIANCE (PLAY) (pt. 2)

438II. PROPERTY AND MARRIAGE

199The Dark Lady Of The Sonnets (1910)

439III. THE PERFECTIONIST EXPERIMENT AT ONEIDA CREEK

200PREFACE TO THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS

440IV. MAN’S OBJECTION TO HIS OWN IMPROVEMENT

201THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS (PLAY)

441V. THE POLITICAL NEED FOR THE SUPERMAN

202Fanny’s First Play (1911)

442VI. PRUDERY EXPLAINED

203PREFACE TO FANNY’S FIRST PLAY

443VII. PROGRESS AN ILLUSION

204INDUCTION

444VIII. THE CONCEIT OF CIVILIZATION

205ACT I

445IX. THE VERDICT OF HISTORY

206ACT II

446X. THE METHOD

207ACT III

447Maxims For Revolutionists (1903)

208EPILOGUE

448The New Theology (1907)

209Androcles And The Lion (1912)

449How to Write A Popular Play: An Essay (1909)

210PREFACE ON THE PROSPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY (pt. 1)

4501

211PREFACE ON THE PROSPECTS OF CHRISTIANITY (pt. 2)

4512: WHY THE CRITICS ARE ALWAYS WRONG

212PROLOGUE

4523: THE INTERPRETER OF LIFE

213ACT I

4534: HOW THE GREAT DRAMATISTS TORTURE THE PUBLIC

214ACT II

454A Treatise on Parents and Children: An Essay (1910)

215Afterword

455PARENTS AND CHILDREN (pt. 1)

216Overruled: A Demonstration (1912)

456PARENTS AND CHILDREN (pt. 2)

217PREFACE TO OVERRULED

457Memories of Oscar Wilde (1916)

218OVERRULED (PLAY)

458The Intelligent Women’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism: Excerpts (1928)

219Pygmalion (1913)

459Women in the Labour Market

220PREFACE TO PYGMALION

460Socialism and Marriage

221ACT I

461Socialism and Children

222ACT II

462Letter to Frank Harris (1930)

223ACT III

463How These Doctors Love One Another! (1931)

224ACT IV

464The Black Girl in Search of God (1932)

225ACT V

465The Political Madhouse in America and Nearer Home (1933)

226APPENDIX

466On Capital Punishment (1948)

227Great Catherine (Whom Glory Still Adores) (1913)

467George Bernard Shaw by G. K. Chesterton

228THE AUTHOR’S APOLOGY FOR GREAT CATHERINE

468Introduction to the First Edition

229THE FIRST SCENE

469The Problem of a Preface

230THE SECOND SCENE

470The Irishman

231THE THIRD SCENE

471The Puritan

232THE FOURTH SCENE

472The Progressive

233The Music Cure (1913)

473The Critic

234Beauty’s Duty (Unfinished) (1913)

474The Dramatist

235O’Flaherty, V. C. (1915)

475The Philosopher

236O’FLAHERTY V.C. (PLAY)

476The Quintessence of Shaw by James Huneker

237Macbeth Skit (unfinished)

477Old and New Masters: Bernard Shaw by Robert Lynd

238Glastonbury Skit (unfinished) (1916)

478George Bernard Shaw: A Poem by Oliver Herford

239The Inca Of Perusalem: An Almost Historical Comedietta (1916)

479Analysis

240PROLOGUE

480Reflection

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