(Applause Books). "With the single exception of Homer, there is no eminent writer, not even Sir Walter Scott, whom I can despise so entirely as I despise Shakespeare when I measure my mind against his." - From SHAW ON SHAKESPEARE Celebrated playwright, critic and essayist George Bernard Shaw was more like the Elizabethan master that he would ever admit. Both men were intristic dramatists who shared a rich and abiding respect for the stage. Shakespeare was the produce of a tempestuous and enlightening era under the reign of his patron, Queen Elizabeth I; while G.B.S. reflected the racy and risque spirt of the late 19th century as the champion of modern drama by playwrights like Ibsen, and, later, himself. Culled from Shaw's reviews, prefaces, letters to actors and critics, and other writings, SHAW ON SHAKESPEARE offers a fascinating and unforgettable portrait of the 16th century playwright by his most outspoken critic. This is a witty and provocative classic that combines Shaw's prodigious critical acumen with a superlative prose style second to none (except, perhaps, Shakespeare!).

"The Dark Lady of the Sonnets" is a one-act play written by means of George Bernard Shaw. A departure from Shaw's more well-known works, this play is a humorous and satirical exploration of the mysterious parent from William Shakespeare's sonnets, regularly known as the "Dark Lady." Set in the early 17th century, the play opens with William Shakespeare himself, grappling with creator's block as he struggles to locate thought for his poetry. The plot takes an unexpected flip while the Dark Lady, the object of Shakespeare's poetic affections, turns out to be none other than Queen Elizabeth I. Shaw uses this revelation to weave a comedic narrative, injecting wit and smart speak into the interaction between the Bard and the Queen. The play satirizes Shakespeare's romantic entanglements and mocks the conventions of Elizabethan drama, all while imparting a lighthearted exploration of the complexities of love, reputation, and artistic idea. "The Dark Lady of the Sonnets" is a short and exciting work that showcases Shaw's wit and ability to playfully engage with ancient and literary topics. It offers a unique angle on the speculative components of Shakespeare's private lifestyles and relationships, including a hint of humor to the area of Elizabethan poetry and drama.

Virginia Woolf. The third chapter of Woolf's essay "A Room of One's Own," based on two lectures the author gave to female students at Cambridge in 1928 on the topic of women and fiction. 36 pages. Tale Blazers.

George Bernard Shaw has been called the second greatest playwright in English (after William Shakespeare) and one of the inventors of modern celebrity as the most famous public intellectual of his time. Beginning in the 1880s, as a critic and as a playwright, he transformed British drama, bringing to it intellectual substance, ethical imperatives, and modernity itself, setting the theatrical course for the subsequent century. That his legacy endures seventy years after his death is testament to the prescience of his thinking and his prolific creativity. This Very Short Introduction looks at Shaw's life, starting with his upbringing in Ireland, and then takes a chronological approach through his works. Considering Shaw's committed antagonism on behalf of a range of socio-political issues; his use of comedy as a mode for communicating serious ideas; and his rhetorical style that pushes conventional boundaries, Christopher Wixson provides an overview of the creative evolution of core themes throughout Shaw's long career. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Presents four plays by George Bernard Shaw, incuding "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "Pygmalion," "Man and Superman," and "Major Barbara," each with an explanatory annotation, and includes information on the author and his work, a chronology, and a selected bibliography.