This volume contains forty fascinating essays written by Bernard Shaw.
Taken in combination, his essays aim to provide a representative
cross-section of English theatre history in the late-nineteenth century.
The first chapter explores Shaw's skill as a critic, highlighting his
extraordinary body of knowledge. The rest of the essays deal with such
playwrights as Shakespeare, Ibsen, Wilde, and Pinero; and such players
as Irving, Ellen Terry, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Forbes-Robertson, and
Bernhardt. This text is highly recommended for those with a keen
interest in theatre history, and it is not to be missed by the
discerning collector of antiquarian literature of this ilk. Many vintage
books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with
this in mind that we are republishing this volume now, in an affordable,
high-quality, modern edition. It comes complete with a specially
commissioned biography of the author.