Press Cuttings

by George Bernard Shaw

Book by Shaw, George Bernard

Genres: Plays, Classics, Fiction, Drama, Comedy

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

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

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps even 4½ stars! Read as part of the Kindle omnibus The Plays of Shaw.

I found this one-act play hilarious. Set in 1911, at the time of suffragettes trying to get votes for women, it uses reductio ad absurdum to show the logic of the government and military positions. Some of the military attitudes would be an appropriate commentary to today's military in my opinion. For example, this exchange between the Prime Minister Balsquith and the general Mitchener:

Mitchener: How do the inhabitants sleep with the possibility of invasion, of bombardment, continually present in their minds? Would you have our English slumbers broken in the same way? Are we also to live without security?
Balsquith (dogmatically): Yes. There's no such thing as security in the world; and there never can be as long as men are mortal. England will be secure when England is dead, just as the streets of London will be safe when there is no longer a man in her streets to be run over, or a vehicle to run over him. When you military chaps ask for security, you are crying for the moon.

I can imagine this exchange as referring to the "war on terrorism".

[Manik Sukoco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one-act play hilarious. Set in 1911, at the time of suffragettes trying to get votes for women, it uses reductio ad absurdum to show the logic of the government and military positions. Some of the military attitudes would be an appropriate commentary to today's military in my opinion.
For example, this exchange between the Prime Minister Balsquith and the general:
Mitchener: How do the inhabitants sleep with the possibility of invasion, of bombardment, continually present in their minds? Would you have our English slumbers broken in the same way? Are we also to live without security?
Balsquith (dogmatically): Yes. There's no such thing as security in the world; and there never can be as long as men are mortal. England will be secure when England is dead, just as the streets of London will be safe when there is no longer a man in her streets to be run over, or a vehicle to run over him. When you military chaps as for security, you are crying for the moon.
I can imagine this exchange as referring to the "war on terrorism".

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2893624.html

Set in the near future with an envisioned political change - written in 1908 and set in 1911, in an England where the suffragette movement has become so disruptive that martial law is being implemented in London. It's not one of the great Shaw plays; the fact that we have moved on so decisively from this particular part of the wider gender and politics debate makes it very difficult to relate to his central characters, the general, the prime minister, and the anti-suffrage ladies who demand audience with them. However his shafts about class, and the dangers of putting the military in charge of a political project, remain well-aimed. And towards the end it gets really funny when the general claims to be fifty-two, only to be confronted with the fact that Who's Who says he's sixty-one.

The portrayal of General "Mitchener" and Prime Minister "Balsquith" was felt to be so close to the bone for Generals Milner and Kitchener, and PMs Balfour and Asquith, that the play was actually banned from public performance in England; an act of censorship which is almost incomprehensible to today's reader.

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another interesting little play. Written in, I believe, 1909 and set in the near future of 1911, it is set against a backdrop of suffragettes protesting for the right to vote. The main male characters, an old general and the British Prime Minister, are finally convinced to grant women's suffrage to save themselves from two female anti-suffragists who are more "manly" than they are themselves.

"Press Cuttings" is also a good snapshot of the British mindset just before World War I. There are lots of prescient comments about countering Germany, etc. It's a quick read, well worth a look.

[Andrew Noselli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't understand this play. Very British.

[Michael P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minor Shaw, to be sure, but there are many satisfying moments is this satire on the military mind, the suffragette movement, and relationships between men and women. Parts will probably pass muster in a politically correct environment,but other bits may not.

[Tinquerbelle]

Shaw, George Bernard
The Complete Bernard Shaw Plays

In compilation only.