Plays Pleasant
Plays Pleasant by Bernard Shaw, published by Penguin Books in 1975, is a collection of some of Shaw’s most notable comedies, spanning 320 pages. This edition presents a nuanced exploration of Victorian attitudes towards heroism, war, and societal norms through a series of interconnected plays. The collection includes works such as Arms and the Man, which critiques romanticized notions of valor, and Candida, where a young poet’s infatuation leads to a humorous examination of idealism.
Readers will find a blend of wit and satire as Shaw addresses themes of family dynamics and societal expectations. The plays feature engaging dialogues, such as the verbal sparring between Napoleon and a mysterious woman in The Man of Destiny, and the farcical reunion of a divided family in You Never Can Tell. While Shaw aimed for a gentler tone in Plays Pleasant compared to its companion volume, the sharpness of his satire remains evident, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and societal constructs.
Official synopsis Publisher
One of Bernard Shaw’s most glittering comedies, Arms and the Man is a burlesque of Victorian attitudes to heroism, war and empire. In the contrast between Bluntschli, the mercenary soldier, and the brave leader, Sergius, the true nature of valour is revealed. Shaw mocks deluded idealism in Candida, when a young poet becomes infatuated with the wife of a Socialist preacher. The Man of Destiny is a witty war of words between Napoleon and a ‘strange lady’, while in the exuberant farce You Never Can Tell a divided family is reunited by chance. Although Shaw intended Plays Pleasant to be gentler comedies than those in the companion volume, Plays Unpleasant, their prophetic satire remains sharp and provocative.
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