{"product_id":"book-g2lk","title":"George Bernard Shaw","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e15 of the finest works by the world-renowned playwright, as heard on BBC radio\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGeorge Bernard Shaw - or Bernard Shaw, as he preferred to be known - was one of Ireland's foremost dramatists and thinkers. His plays range from contemporary satires to historical allegories, and are infused with ideas, insight, wit and wisdom. Included here are some of his best works, adapted for radio and brought together in reverse chronological order in one statement collection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe begin with his prophetic political comedy \u003ci\u003eThe Apple Cart\u003c\/i\u003e, set in the future and pitting the fictional King Magnus against his Prime Minister. Next is his masterpiece \u003ci\u003eSaint Joan\u003c\/i\u003e, dramatising the trials of Joan of Arc, for which he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. \u003ci\u003eHeartbreak House\u003c\/i\u003e lampoons England's ruling elite before World War I, as they sail heedlessly towards catastrophe; \u003ci\u003ePygmalion\u003c\/i\u003e explores feminism and the class system through Cockney flowergirl Eliza Doolittle and irascible phonetics professor Henry Higgins; and in \u003ci\u003eAndrocles and the Lion\u003c\/i\u003e, Shaw transforms Aesop's fable to impart his thoughts on human frailty, religion and martyrdom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dark Lady of the Sonnets\u003c\/i\u003e imagines a meeting between William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I, while alternate history \u003ci\u003ePress Cuttings\u003c\/i\u003e sets the suffragettes against crotchety war veteran General Mitchener. Here, too, are the controversial \u003ci\u003eThe Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet\u003c\/i\u003e, banned in England for contravening blasphemy laws; the classic comedy \u003ci\u003eMajor Barbara\u003c\/i\u003e, a tale of romance, rich privilege and a battle of wills; and the humorous philosophical drama based on the Don Juan theme, \u003ci\u003eMan and Superman\u003c\/i\u003e, directed for Radio 3 by theatrical icon Sir Peter Hall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso featured are early works \u003ci\u003eCaesar and Cleopatra\u003c\/i\u003e, a dramatised account of the relationship between the Roman dictator and the Egyptian queen; \u003ci\u003eThe Devil's Disciple\u003c\/i\u003e, set against the backdrop of the American War of Independence; \u003ci\u003eThe Man of Destiny\u003c\/i\u003e, in which Napoleon enters into a battle of wits with a beautiful stranger; and \u003ci\u003eCandida\u003c\/i\u003e, about a vicar's wife whose life is turned upside down by a young poet. Finally, Shaw's acclaimed 'problem play', \u003ci\u003eMrs Warren's Profession\u003c\/i\u003e, probes issues of Victorian prostitution and double standards. And in a bonus documentary, devotees of the great author discuss his life, work and legacy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmong the array of stars in these coruscating dramas are \u003cb\u003eRalph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Prunella Scales, Anton Lesser, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eJuliet Stevenson, Paul Merton, Ron Cook, Victoria Hamilton, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eNicholas Le Prevost, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Suchet, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eEleanor Bron, David Troughton, \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eJulian Rhind-Tutt\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlistair McGowan, Al Murray, Morgana Robinson,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Robert Bathurst, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Leslie French, Marius Goring, Arthur Lowe, Denys Hawthorne, Rebecca Front, Alan Badel, Gregory Peck, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaul Ritter, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eHannah Gordon, Edward Petherbridge\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eMaggie Steed\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNB: This collection contains language that reflects the attitudes of the era in which the plays were written. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003eProduction credits\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by George Bernard Shaw\u003cbr\u003eFirst published 1893 (\u003ci\u003eMrs Warren's Profession\u003c\/i\u003e), 1894 (\u003ci\u003eCandida\u003c\/i\u003e), 1895 (\u003ci\u003eThe Man of Destiny\u003c\/i\u003e), 1896 (\u003ci\u003eThe Devil's Disciple\u003c\/i\u003e), 1898 (\u003ci\u003eCaesar and Cleopatra\u003c\/i\u003e), 1902 (\u003ci\u003eMan and Superman\u003c\/i\u003e), 1905 (\u003ci\u003eMajor Barbara\u003c\/i\u003e), 1909 (\u003ci\u003eThe Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet, Press Cuttings\u003c\/i\u003e), 1910 (\u003ci\u003eThe Dark Lady of the Sonnets\u003c\/i\u003e), 1912 (\u003ci\u003eAndrocles and the Lion, Pygmalion\u003c\/i\u003e), 1919 (\u003ci\u003eHeartbreak House)\u003c\/i\u003e, 1923 (\u003ci\u003eSaint Joan\u003c\/i\u003e), 1928 (\u003ci\u003eThe Apple Cart\u003c\/i\u003e), 2007 (Great Lives) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eContents \u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Apple Cart\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eSaint Joan\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eHeartbreak House\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003ePygmalion\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eAndrocles and the Lion\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Dark Lady of the Sonnets\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003ePress Cuttings\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eMajor Barbara\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eMan and Superman\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eCaesar and Cleopatra\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Devil's Disciple\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Man of Destiny\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eCandida\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eMrs Warren's Profession\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003eGreat Lives: George Bernard Shaw \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e©2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49360950493488,"sku":"BDg2lk","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/296808-g2lk-Square.jpg?v=1734489746","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-g2lk","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}