Annajanska the Bolshevik Empress

by George Bernard Shaw

""Annajanska The Bolshevik Empress"" is a play written by the renowned Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw. The play is a satirical take on the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the Bolshevik movement that followed. The story revolves around the character of Annajanska, a fictional Empress of Russia who, after the revolution, finds herself in a precarious position. She is forced to flee her palace and take refuge in a small cottage in the countryside. Here, she meets a group of peasants who are struggling to come to terms with the new political order. Annajanska, with her regal bearing and aristocratic ways, finds it hard to adjust to the new reality. However, as the play progresses, she begins to see the merit in the Bolshevik ideology and starts to question her own privileged position. The play is a biting critique of the Russian aristocracy and their inability to understand the plight of the common people. It also explores the themes of power, privilege, and revolution. Overall, ""Annajanska The Bolshevik Empress"" is a thought-provoking play that offers a unique perspective on one of the most significant events of the 20th century.STRAMMFEST [snatching the telephone and listening for the answer]. Speak louder, will I am a General I know that, you dolt. Have you captured the officer that was with her?... Damnation! You shall answer for you let him he bribed you. You must have seen the fellow is in the full dress court uniform of the Panderobajensky Hussars. I give you twelve hours to catch him or...what's that you say about the devil?This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama, Ebooks

48 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1918

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Atlas · Rating 3 out of 5]

That one wasn't so bad...If it made me a bit confused

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little bagatelle of Shaw's premiered in 1918, shortly after the Bolshevik takeover in Russia. Except that Russia is never named in the play: It is Beotia, lately controlled by the Panjandrum of that country. We are on the front lines of World War One with two Beotian officers, the senior of whom is still in his heart loyal to the cause of the deposed Panjandrum. The news reaches him that Annajanska, the Grand Duchess and daughter of the Panjandrum, has become a revolutionary. She is brought before him and cleverly manipulates him into listening to her.

Much is made of the many cliques of the Revolution, and how it is so difficult to know to whom to submit one's reports from the Front.

It's worth reading this one-act play if for no other reason than to see how the Russian Revolution impacted on the English, and particularly one Irish wit.

[Fabio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small fun toy of a play by Shaw is worth ten serious plays from lesser pens.

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another short play that Shaw wrote during World War I. The title rather gives away the punchline at the end: Gasp! The Bolshevik leader this princess has been talking about is... herself!

[Dr.J.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comedy look at the revolution where instead of the gore and massacres of real events there is a princess of the realm travelling dressed up as an officer of the military, which leads people to conclude she is kidnapped by the officer; what she intends is to take over the revolution, and since the various people now serving the revolution and attempting to adapt to the new order of the day of everyone supposedly being equal are at heart still very much devoted to her, there is every chance she will succeed, and so become the Bolshevik Empress.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014.

[Tinquerbelle]

Shaw, George Bernard
The Complete Bernard Shaw Plays

In compilation only.