Heartbreak House
Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw, published by Penguin in 2001, is a compelling exploration of societal values during a tumultuous period in history. This edition features 176 pages and presents Shaw’s critical examination of the generation that contributed to World War I. The narrative unfolds at the home of the eccentric Captain Shotover, where Ellie Dunn’s decision to marry for financial security rather than love ignites a spirited debate among the guests about money, morality, and the clash between idealism and realism.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of characters, including the Captain’s outspoken daughter Hesione and Ellie’s wealthy industrialist fiancé, as they engage in lively discussions that reflect the complexities of their time. Written between 1916 and 1917, Heartbreak House combines elements of drama with a poignant critique of societal norms, making it a significant work in the context of 20th-century European literature. This definitive text is edited under the supervision of Dan H. Laurence and includes Shaw’s 1919 preface, the original cast list, and a selection of his principal works.
Official synopsis Publisher
Exclusive to Penguin Classics: the definitive text of Shaw’s telling indictment of the generation responsible for World War I—part of the official Bernard Shaw Library
A Penguin Classic
When Ellie Dunn joins a house party at the home of the eccentric Captain Shotover, she causes a stir with her decision to marry for money rather than love, and the Captain’s forthright daughter Hesione protests vigorously against the pragmatic young woman’s choice. Opinion on the matter quickly divides and a lively argument about money and morality, idealism and realism ensues as Hesione’s rakish husband, snobbish sister, and Ellie’s fiancé—a wealthy industrialist—enter the debate.
Heartbreak House was written between 1916 and 1917, as war raged across Europe. With its bold combination of high farce and bitter tragedy, it remains an uncannily prophetic depiction of a society on the threshold of an abrupt awakening.
This is the definitive text under the editorial supervision of Dan H. Laurence. This volume includes Shaw’s preface of 1919, the cast list from the first production of Heartbreak House, and a list of his principal works.
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