George Bernard Shaw in Context

When George Bernard Shaw died in 1950, the world lost one of its most well-known authors, a revolutionary who was as renowned for his personality as he was for his humour, humanity, and rebellious thinking. He remains a compelling figure who deserves attention not only for how influential he was in his time, but for how relevant he is to ours. This collection sets Shaw's life and achievements in context, with forty-two scholarly essays devoted to subjects that interested him and defined his work. Contributors explore a wide range of themes, moving from factors that were formative in Shaw's life, to the artistic work that made him most famous and the institutions with which he worked, to the political and social issues that consumed much of his attention, and, finally, to his influence and reception. Presenting fresh material and arguments, this collection will point to new directions of research for future scholars.

Preface; A chronology of Shaw's works; Part I. People and Places: 1. Dublin Peter Gahan; 2. The Fabian Society Lauren Arrington; 3. Germany and Austria Peter Conolly-Smith; 4. London Desmond Harding; 5. Oscar Wilde Eibhear Walshe; 6. W. B. Yeats Nicholas Grene; Part II. Theatre: 7. The Abbey Theatre Anthony Roche; 8. Actors and actresses Margot Peters; 9. The Court Theatre Sos Eltis; 10. Fabian drama J. Ellen Gainor; 11. Farcical comedy Kerry Powell; 12. History plays Ellen E. Dolgin; 13. Melodrama Heidi J. Holder; 14. The new drama Jean Chothia; Part III. Writing and the Arts: 15. Cinema John McInerney; 16. Journalism Elizabeth Carolyn Miller; 17. Letters Charles A. Carpenter; 18. Media and technology Lawrence Switzky; 19. Modernism Christopher Innes; 20. Music Alfred Turco, Jr; 21. Novels Richard Farr Dietrich; 22. Publishers and publishing Michel W. Pharand; 23. Visual arts Martin Meisel; Part IV. Politics: 24. Censorship Brad Kent; 25. Empire and nationalism Michael Malouf; 26. Feminism D. A. Hadfield; 27. Irish politics Nelson O'Ceallaigh Ritschel; 28. Socialism James Alexander; 29. Totalitarianism Matthew Yde; 30. War Lagretta Tallent Lenker; Part V. Culture and Society: 31. Celebrity Jonathan Goldman; 32. Education Jean Reynolds; 33. Evolutionary theory John R. Pfeiffer; 34. Health and vegetarianism Christopher Wixson; 35. Language Gustavo A. Rodríguez Martín; 36. Nature Tony J. Stafford; 37. Philosophy David Kornhaber; Part VI. Reception and Afterlife: 38. Reception in London, 1892–1950 J. P. Wearing; 39. Criticism, 1950–2013 A. M. Gibbs; 40. The contemporary North American stage L. W. Conolly; 41. Biography Julie A. Sparks; 42. The Shavian tradition John A. Bertolini.

Brad Kent is Associate Professor of British and Irish Literatures at Université Laval and was Visiting Professor at Trinity College Dublin in 2013–14. His recent publications include a critical edition of Shaw's Mrs Warren's Profession (2012), The Selected Essays of Sean O'Faolain (2016), and essays in University of Toronto Quarterly, Modern Drama, ARIEL: A Review of International English Literatures, English Literature in Transition, Irish University Review, and The Oxford Handbook of Modern Irish Theatre. He is also the programme director of the Shaw Symposium, held annually at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada.