The Irrational Knot - Shaw, George Bernard

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Résumé :
This novel was written in the year 1880, only a few years after I had exported myself from Dublin to London in a condition of extreme rawness and inexperience concerning the speci-fically English side of the life with which the book pretends to deal. Ever...

Biographie:
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950). Irish playwright, author, political activist.
George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin 1856. He was sent to various schools in Dublin but developed a great dislike for the formalised education systems and widespread use of corporal punishment which was prevalent at the time.
After working as a clerk in Dublin for several years, in 1876, Shaw left for London to join his mother who was living there. In London, he began reading extensively and writing his first novels. He also became increasingly devoted to the ideals of socialism. He joined the Fabian society and became one of its leading writers and activists, inspiring and helping activists such as Annie Besant. With fellow Fabians such as Sidney and Beatrice Webb, he helped found the London School of Economics (LSE) after receiving private bequests.
In 1898 he married Charlotte Payne Townshend, a fellow Irish Fabian. The marriage was never consummated and they remained childless. In 1906, they moved to Ayot St Lawrence in Hertfordshire, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.
By the 1890s, Shaw's plays were being performed in London. The income from his plays enabled him to devote his life to writing. Like his contemporary, Oscar Wilde, Shaw's plays were popular for their biting wit and humour. His plays were in contrast to many Victorian plays which tended to be sentimental, escapist and lacking in satire. Shaw wrote he was influenced by Henrik Ibsen who helped pioneer more realistic modern drama.
As a committed Socialist, Shaw infused his plays with his concepts of social justice and issues of class. For example, one of his best known plays Pygmalion (1912-13) (later made into a film and musical My Fair Lady) deals with the class divide which characterised British society at the time. However, to the disappointment of Shaw, his plays were mainly enjoyed as entertainment, rather than political commentary.
As well as plays, Shaw wrote novels, short stories and was a noted literary critic. In particular, he was influential in criticising the Victorian preference for performing edited Shakespeare plays.
By the start of the First World War, Shaw was a well-known playwright, so his strident opposition to the First World War gained him much criticism. He felt governments had coerced the population into needless wars. In Heartbreak House (1919) he said:

It is said that every people has the Government it deserves. It is more to the point that every Government has the electorate it deserves; for the orators of the front bench can edify or debauch an ignorant electorate at will. Thus our democracy moves in a vicious circle of reciprocal worthiness and unworthiness.

Sommaire:
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and social reformer known for his sharp wit, satirical commentary, and progressive views. Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to London in his early twenties and became deeply involved in the cultural and intellectual life of the city. The Apple Cart, written in 1928, is one of Shaw's later plays and is considered a political satire. It explores themes of power, politics, and monarchy in a fictional future Britain. In the play, King Magnus finds himself at odds with his Prime Minister over the monarchy's role in government, leading to a series of witty and thought-provoking debates about democracy, leadership, and the nature of power. Shaw's works often challenged societal norms and conventions, and The Apple Cart is no exception, using humor and irony to critique political systems and explore alternative visions for society. As a playwright, Shaw was known for his ability to blend entertainment with intellectual depth, creating memorable characters and engaging dialogue that continue to resonate with audiences today. Beyond his literary achievements, Shaw was a prominent figure in the Fabian Society, a socialist organization advocating for social reform. He used his platform as a writer and public speaker to champion causes such as women's rights, education reform, and economic equality. George Bernard Shaw's legacy as a playwright and thinker is marked by his profound impact on both literature and social discourse. His plays, including The Apple Cart, remain relevant for their exploration of timeless themes and their enduring relevance to contemporary political and social issues....