George Bernard Shaw demanded truth and despised convention. He punctured hollow pretensions and smug prudishness—coating his criticism with ingenious and irreverent wit. In Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Arms and the Man, Candida, and Man and Superman, the great playwright satirizes society, military heroism, marriage, and the pursuit of man by woman. From a social, literary, and theatrical standpoint, these four plays are among the foremost dramas of the age—as intellectually stimulating as they are thoroughly enjoyable. “My way of joking is to tell the truth: It is the funniest joke in the world.”—G. B. Shaw With an Introduction by Eric Bentley and an Afterword by Norman Lloyd

Available in paperback for the first time, Gareth Griffith's book provides a comprehensive critical account of the political ideas of one of the most influential commentators of the twentieth century. With close reference to a range of Shaw's texts, from the Fabian tracts to the plays, Gareth Griffith draws out the central theoretical messages of Shaw's engagement with politics. The first part of the book provides an intellectual biography, while at the same time analysing Shaw's key concerns in relation to his Fabianism, arguments for equality of income and ideas on democracy and education. Part Two looks at those areas which Shaw approached as long-standing historical problems or dramas requiring immediate thought or action; sexual equality, the Irish question, war, fascism and sovietism. The book is directed to the general reader as well as to specialists. It will be central reading for anyone seeking to understand Shaw's life, and literary and political writings, or the development of political thinking in this century, or the problems and potential inherent in socialism.

The 'World's Greatest Classics in One Volume' encompasses an unparalleled assembly of literary geniuses, spanning from ancient to modern times. This anthology curates a mosaic of narratives, philosophies, and poetic expressions that have shaped and reflected societies through centuries. The collection boasts a tapestry of literary styles, from the tragic to the comedic, the epic to the intimate, enveloping the reader in a journey through the human condition as seen by the likes of Shakespeare, Austen, Dostoyevsky, and Whitman, among others. It highlights the diversity and significance of these works, threading together the universal themes of love, conflict, ambition, and identity across different cultures and epochs, offering a kaleidoscope of human experience. The contributors to this volume are not only titans in the literary world but also pivotal figures who have contributed significantly to various intellectual movements, from the Enlightenment to Romanticism, and Modernism to the Harlem Renaissance. Their backgrounds are as diverse as their writing, spanning continents and centuries, reflecting a rich tapestry of global history and thought. The anthology serves as a confluence where the East meets the West, tradition confronts modernity, and narrative innovation interlaces with timeless truths, providing a pluralistic platform that celebrates the breadth of human creativity. 'Readers are invited to delve into the 'World's Greatest Classics in One Volume' not just as a means of literary exploration but as an enriching journey through the annals of human thought and expression. This collection is perfect for those seeking to immerse themselves in the cornerstone texts of global literature, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the minds that have perennially inspired, disturbed, and transformed the world. For students, educators, and lifelong learners, this anthology promises a comprehensive and insightful compendium that fosters appreciation, critical reflection, and an enduring dialogue between the past and present.