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George Bernard Shaw

Born

in Portobello, Dublin, Ireland

July 26, 1856

Died

November 02, 1950

Genre

Literature & Fiction, Theater

Influences

Robert Ingersoll, Avro Manhattan, Annie Besant, Arthur Schopenhauer, R ...more

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George Bernard Shaw stands as one of the most prolific and influential intellectuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a man whose literary output was matched only by his fervent commitment to social reform. Rising from a modest background in Dublin to become a global icon of letters, Shaw redefined the purpose of the stage, transforming it from a place of mere entertainment into a forum for rigorous intellectual debate and moral inquiry. His unique "Shavian" style—characterized by sharp-witted dialogue, paradoxical reasoning, and a relentless assault on Victorian hypocrisy—ensured that his voice resonated far beyond the footlights. As a playwright, critic, and philosopher, he remains a singular figure in history, being George Bernard Shaw stands as one of the most prolific and influential intellectuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a man whose literary output was matched only by his fervent commitment to social reform. Rising from a modest background in Dublin to become a global icon of letters, Shaw redefined the purpose of the stage, transforming it from a place of mere entertainment into a forum for rigorous intellectual debate and moral inquiry. His unique "Shavian" style—characterized by sharp-witted dialogue, paradoxical reasoning, and a relentless assault on Victorian hypocrisy—ensured that his voice resonated far beyond the footlights. As a playwright, critic, and philosopher, he remains a singular figure in history, being one of only two individuals to have been honored with both a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Academy Award. This rare crossover of high-art recognition and mainstream cinematic success speaks to his versatility and the enduring relevance of his narratives. His dramatic work, which includes over sixty plays, often tackled the most pressing issues of his day, from the rigid structures of the British class system to the complexities of gender roles and the ethical dilemmas of capitalism. In masterpieces like Pygmalion, he used the science of phonetics to demonstrate the artificiality of class distinctions, a theme that would later reach millions through the musical adaptation My Fair Lady. In Man and Superman, he delved into the philosophical concepts of the "Life Force" and the evolution of the human spirit, while Major Barbara forced audiences to confront the uncomfortable relationship between religious idealism and the industrial military complex. Beyond his theatrical achievements, Shaw was a foundational force in political thought, serving as a leading light of the Fabian Society. His advocacy for gradual socialist reform, rather than violent revolution, helped shape the trajectory of modern British politics and social welfare. He was instrumental in the creation of the London School of Economics, an institution that continues to influence global policy and economic theory. Shaw was also a formidable critic, whose reviews of music and drama set new standards for the profession, characterized by an uncompromising honesty and a deep knowledge of the arts. His personal lifestyle was as distinctive as his writing; a committed vegetarian, teetotaler, and non-smoker, he lived with a disciplined focus that allowed him to remain productive well into his ninth decade. He was a man of contradictions, often engaging in provocative public discourse that challenged the status quo, even when his views sparked intense controversy. His fascination with the "Superman" archetype and his occasional support for authoritarian figures reflected a complex, often elitist worldview that sought the betterment of humanity through radical intellectual evolution. Despite these complexities, his core mission was always rooted in a profound humanitarianism and a desire to expose the delusions that prevented society from progressing. He believed that the power of the written word could strip away the masks of respectability that hid social injustice, and his plays continue to be staged worldwide because the human foibles he satirized remain as prevalent today as they were during his lifetime. By blending humor with gravity and intellect with accessibility, Shaw created a body of work that serves as both a mirror and a compass for modern civilization. His legacy is not just in the scripts he left behind, but in the very way we think about the intersection of art, politics, and the individual’s responsibility to the collective good. He remains the quintessential public intellectual, a man who never feared to speak his mind or to demand that the world become a more rational and equitable place. ...more

Combine Editions
George Bernard Shaw’s books

Average rating: 3.88 · 213,665 ratings · 9,212 reviews · 2,486 distinct works • Similar authors

	Pygmalion 3.88 avg rating — 111,858 ratings — published 1913 — 2490 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pygmalion and Three Other Plays by George Bernard Shaw, John A. Bertolini (Introduction) 4.04 avg rating — 18,288 ratings — published 2004 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pygmalion / My Fair Lady by George Bernard Shaw, Alan Jay Lerner 4.26 avg rating — 15,700 ratings — published 1956 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Arms and the Man 3.83 avg rating — 11,508 ratings — published 1898 — 733 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Saint Joan 3.78 avg rating — 9,842 ratings — published 1923 — 1221 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Major Barbara 3.66 avg rating — 7,360 ratings — published 1905 — 473 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Mrs. Warren's Profession 3.68 avg rating — 7,112 ratings — published 1898 — 454 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw, Stanley Weintraub (Introduction), Dan H. Laurence (Editor) 3.85 avg rating — 4,890 ratings — published 1903 — 830 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Candida by George Bernard Shaw, Peter Gahan (Introduction) 3.70 avg rating — 3,319 ratings — published 1898 — 352 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw, David Hare (Introduction), Dan H. Laurence (Editor) 3.74 avg rating — 2,905 ratings — published 1919 — 243 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by George Bernard Shaw…

Series by George Bernard Shaw

Dodd, Mead Shaw Selected Plays (4 books)
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George Bernard Shaw

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Quotes by George Bernard Shaw (?)

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
― George Bernard Shaw

tags: inspirational, life, yourself

27410 likes

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
― George Bernard Shaw

tags: art, life

8233 likes

“Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself.”
― George Bernard Shaw

tags: books, children

7962 likes

See all George Bernard Shaw's quotes »

Polls

June 2016 New School Classic Poll

1966, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, 407 pages

38 votes, 18.1%

1996, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, 835 pages

35 votes, 16.7%

1969, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, 246 pages

22 votes, 10.5%

1913, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, 134 pages

19 votes, 9.0%

1955, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, 307 pages

18 votes, 8.6%

1930, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, 267 pages

17 votes, 8.1%

1982, The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, 448 pages

12 votes, 5.7%

1995, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby, 334 pages

11 votes, 5.2%

1940, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, 368 pages

9 votes, 4.3%

1997, American Pastoral by Philip Roth, 424 pages

7 votes, 3.3%

1988, Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco, 649 pages

6 votes, 2.9%

1971, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, 569 pages

5 votes, 2.4%

1957, The Birds by Tarjei Vesaas, 200 pages

4 votes, 1.9%

1958, Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene, 220 pages

4 votes, 1.9%

1987, Cities of Salt by Abdul Rahman Munif, 627 pages

3 votes, 1.4%

210 total votes

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George Bernard Shaw’s Followers (4,241)

George Bernard Shaw

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Series by George Bernard Shaw

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Topics Mentioning This Author

Combine Editions
George Bernard Shaw’s books