Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and polemicist, the most important English-language dramatist since Shakespeare and a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Famous for his wit, his social conscience, and his sparkling dialogue, he used the stage to challenge the conventions and injustices of his age.
His best-known plays include Pygmalion — the source of the musical My Fair Lady — Man and Superman, Major Barbara, Saint Joan, and Mrs Warren's Profession. Shaw combined brilliant comedy with serious ideas about class, poverty, war, and morality, often adding lengthy, provocative prefaces that are works of argument in their own right.
A tireless social reformer and famous public wit, Shaw remained productive into his nineties. He is the only person to have won both a Nobel Prize and an Academy Award (for the screenplay of Pygmalion).
His dialogue is crisp and modern, and our editions present his plays clearly. Read the opening free, and read or listen with a membership.
Bernard Shaw in the library · 4 works
Arms and the Man
soon
Pygmalion
soon
Audiobooks by Bernard Shaw
Every Bernard Shaw title in the library is also a complete, professionally produced audiobook — 4 audiobooks in total. Members listen free on any device. Browse the audiobook library →
Frequently asked questions about Bernard Shaw
What did Bernard Shaw write?
Shaw wrote more than sixty plays, along with criticism, essays, and famous prefaces. His best-known plays include Pygmalion, Man and Superman, Major Barbara, Saint Joan, Mrs Warren's Profession, and Arms and the Man. Pygmalion is his most famous, especially as the basis for the musical My Fair Lady.
What is Pygmalion about?
Pygmalion follows Professor Henry Higgins, a phonetics expert who bets that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl, into a refined lady simply by teaching her to speak properly. The play is a witty, sharp comedy about class, language, and identity in British society. It inspired the beloved musical and film My Fair Lady, though Shaw's original ending is notably different.
Where should I start with Bernard Shaw?
Pygmalion is the ideal starting point — funny, accessible, and familiar from My Fair Lady. Major Barbara and Arms and the Man are also excellent, witty introductions. Shaw's plays are very readable, and his prefaces add provocative context if you want to go deeper.
Why is Shaw considered so important?
Shaw revitalised English-language theatre by combining brilliant comedy with serious engagement with social issues — poverty, class, women's rights, war, and religion. His wit made challenging ideas entertaining and popular. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and remains the most performed English-language playwright after Shakespeare.
Are Shaw's plays hard to read?
Not at all — Shaw's dialogue is crisp, witty, and remarkably modern, which makes his plays a pleasure to read. His long prefaces are more demanding but entirely optional. A clear edition of the plays themselves is very accessible.
When did Bernard Shaw live?
Shaw lived from 1856 to 1950, an unusually long and productive life. He wrote most of his major plays in the early 20th century, won the Nobel Prize in 1925, and an Oscar for the Pygmalion screenplay in 1938. He remained active as a writer and commentator into his nineties.
Where can I read Bernard Shaw for free?
Many of Shaw's plays are in the public domain and freely available. Older editions keep his original text and prefaces. Here you can read the openings free in clear modern English, and read or listen with a membership.
Read Bernard Shaw free
Every restored edition — eBook and audiobook — is included with membership. Cancel anytime, one click · 30-day money-back guarantee.
Become a member →