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賲賵賱毓 亘賮丕噩賳乇
Brilliant criticism of the Ring Cycle, with provocative interpretation of politics, economic theories behind the Ring.
226 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1887
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About the author
George Bernard Shaw
2,368听books4,010听followersGeorge Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright, socialist, and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama. Over the course of his life he wrote more than 60 plays. Nearly all his plays address prevailing social problems, but each also includes a vein of comedy that makes their stark themes more palatable. In these works Shaw examined education, marriage, religion, government, health care, and class privilege.
An ardent socialist, Shaw was angered by what he perceived to be the exploitation of the working class. He wrote many brochures and speeches for the Fabian Society. He became an accomplished orator in the furtherance of its causes, which included gaining equal rights for men and women, alleviating abuses of the working class, rescinding private ownership of productive land, and promoting healthy lifestyles. For a short time he was active in local politics, serving on the London County Council.
In 1898, Shaw married Charlotte Payne-Townshend, a fellow Fabian, whom he survived. They settled in Ayot St. Lawrence in a house now called Shaw's Corner.
He is the only person to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Oscar (1938). The former for his contributions to literature and the latter for his work on the film "Pygmalion" (adaptation of his play of the same name). Shaw wanted to refuse his Nobel Prize outright, as he had no desire for public honours, but he accepted it at his wife's behest. She considered it a tribute to Ireland. He did reject the monetary award, requesting it be used to finance translation of Swedish books to English.
Shaw died at Shaw's Corner, aged 94, from chronic health problems exacerbated by injuries incurred by falling.
An ardent socialist, Shaw was angered by what he perceived to be the exploitation of the working class. He wrote many brochures and speeches for the Fabian Society. He became an accomplished orator in the furtherance of its causes, which included gaining equal rights for men and women, alleviating abuses of the working class, rescinding private ownership of productive land, and promoting healthy lifestyles. For a short time he was active in local politics, serving on the London County Council.
In 1898, Shaw married Charlotte Payne-Townshend, a fellow Fabian, whom he survived. They settled in Ayot St. Lawrence in a house now called Shaw's Corner.
He is the only person to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Oscar (1938). The former for his contributions to literature and the latter for his work on the film "Pygmalion" (adaptation of his play of the same name). Shaw wanted to refuse his Nobel Prize outright, as he had no desire for public honours, but he accepted it at his wife's behest. She considered it a tribute to Ireland. He did reject the monetary award, requesting it be used to finance translation of Swedish books to English.
Shaw died at Shaw's Corner, aged 94, from chronic health problems exacerbated by injuries incurred by falling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 6, 2009
George Bernard Shaw was a master of the satire, and he used his pen as a knife to cut through the bejeweled ribbons of a class structure that he found to be both unsustainable and at the pinnacle of it's success.
In this work, he elucidates the concepts of socialism far better than any of the actual proponents of the philosophy did, and yet also showed the relative difficulties in ridding society of the evils of rampant capitalism.
I find it striking, that a hundred years after this story was written, that the barons of capitalism have still not changed their course, and the poor are still slaves to a system they have no chance to escape.
The discussions of economic systems in the book are enrobed in a light tale of Regency-style romance, which is not uncommon in Shaw's work...it was how the books were able to be published.
I believe this to be one of Shaw's finest satires, and I recommend it highly.
In this work, he elucidates the concepts of socialism far better than any of the actual proponents of the philosophy did, and yet also showed the relative difficulties in ridding society of the evils of rampant capitalism.
I find it striking, that a hundred years after this story was written, that the barons of capitalism have still not changed their course, and the poor are still slaves to a system they have no chance to escape.
The discussions of economic systems in the book are enrobed in a light tale of Regency-style romance, which is not uncommon in Shaw's work...it was how the books were able to be published.
I believe this to be one of Shaw's finest satires, and I recommend it highly.
October 12, 2017
乇亘賲丕 賱賵 賯乇丕鬲 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 丕賱賲丕囟賷 賲丕 賰賳鬲 賱丕賮賴賲賴. 賴賳丕賰 賰鬲亘 毓賳丿賲丕 賷丨賷賳 賵賯鬲 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 賴賷 賲賳 鬲賳丕丿賷賰 賰丕賳 丕賱賰鬲亘 鬲賲鬲賱賰 丕乇賵丕丨丕 鬲噩匕亘賰 丕賱賷賴丕 丕匕丕 賰丕賳鬲 乇賵丨賰 爻鬲鬲賵丕賮賯 賲毓 乇賵丨賴丕 賵鬲賳賮乇賰 賲賳賴丕 丕匕丕 賱賲 鬲賰賳 噩丕賴夭丕 亘毓丿 賱丕賰鬲卮丕賮賴丕. 賵賲賵爻賷賯賶 賮丕睾賳乇 賲賳 丕噩賲賱 賲丕 爻賲毓鬲 賲賳 丕賷賳 噩丕亍 亘賰賱 匕賱賰 丕賱噩賲丕賱. 丕賵亘乇丕 禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賵賱賷賳噩 (卮賰賱 賲賳 丕卮賰丕賱 丕賱賲爻乇丨 賷毓乇囟 亘丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵丕賱睾賳丕亍) 毓亘丕乇丞 毓賳 賲賱丨賲丞 丨賷丕丞 (卮乇 禺賷乇 賰乇賴 丨亘 賮賯乇 睾賳賶 噩賲丕賱 賯亘丨 丕賱賴丞 卮賷丕胤賷賳 爻賲丕亍 丕乇囟 乇噩賱 丕賲乇丕丞 馗丕賱賲 賲馗賱賵賲 匕卅丕亘 禺乇賮丕賳 丕爻鬲亘丿丕丿 孬賵乇丞 賳賵乇 馗賱丕賲 丨賷丕丞 賲賵鬲.
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July 8, 2012
賱賲 賷賰賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘購 賲賲鬲毓丕賸 賲賳 丨賷孬購 丕賱賱睾丞 丕賱乇丕賯賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 丕爻鬲禺丿賲賴丕 卮賵 賮賷 丕賱賰鬲丕亘丞 兀賵 丕賱丿賰鬲賵乇 孬乇賵鬲 毓購賰丕卮丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲乇噩賲丞, 賰匕賱賰 賱賲 鬲賻賰賲賳 賲鬲毓丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 鬲賻氐賮購丨 丌乇丕亍 卮賵 賵 乇亘胤賽賴 亘賷賳賻 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲 賮丕噩賳乇 丕賱禺賷丕賱賷丞 賵 丕賱賵丕賯毓, 亘賱 賲購鬲毓鬲賷 丕賱賲購賮囟賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 禺乇噩鬲 亘賴丕 賲賳 賯乇丕亍丞 賲賵賱賻毓 亘賮丕噩賳乇, 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賮乇氐丞 賱乇丐賷丞 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶 丕賱鬲賷 賱賲爻鬲 賯賱亘賷 亘乇賯丞賺 賵 賴夭賻賾鬲賴 亘賯賵丞 賮賷 丕賱丌賳 賳賮爻賴 賲賰鬲賵亘丞賸 賵 鬲丨賵賷 賰購賱賻賾 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲購鬲毓 !
January 12, 2015
Oh, my sweet Fabian Jesus, was Shaw ever unbearable when he wrote this! It is from his early(ish) years (1884), I grant him, and in his preface he draws a line between himself as young novel writer and the older playwright and man of political experience. I try not to confuse authors with characters, especially whey they are attempting a vaguely humourous novel. Trefusis may well be something of a caricature. Still, the heavily expository nature of this novel seems to indicate that in the main these are essentially Shaw's views on Socialism, the position of wealth, the workings of class and most abysmally, the nature of women.
I hate it when wit, satire and misogyny get confused.
Trefusis has more public school arrogance than what he mocks in others, a great desire to constantly hear his own voice, and the emotional reach of a twig. Small wonder the Fabians didn't get far with the working classes. That said, he was right (and occasionally witty) on a number of points.
Pages 272-273 contain as good an account of globalisation and the move of industry to countries of cheaper labour as any written today, though he believed the workers would follow the jobs. He writes:
It did take a while for this to happen, but I got a little chill reading that.
On the other hand, had I written down every grating insult to women phrased as wit contained in these pages, this post would have been as long as the book. I don't know why these two in particular called me to mark them as I feel sure there was worse, but still:
On reflection, the quote below might just have been the most infuriating. I hadn't wanted to punch an author in the stomach this much since reading Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, but that feeling started up from the very beginning when he abandons his wife and commences flirting with several 17-year old school girls.
Socialist women certainly had their work cut out for them in fighting for respect, a place and a voice in this movement. It makes the efforts of those like all the more impressive, and I now blame Shaw and his ilk entirely for their steadfast seriousness and abandonment of any kind of 'femininity' as they battled to overturn the image of flighty, emotional society women incapable of serious thought presented here. What a waste of women's effort.
The geographies of this? From a countryside finishing school to London houses in Belsize Park and St John's Wood and back out to a baron's country house...far from the London I know and love.
I hate it when wit, satire and misogyny get confused.
Trefusis has more public school arrogance than what he mocks in others, a great desire to constantly hear his own voice, and the emotional reach of a twig. Small wonder the Fabians didn't get far with the working classes. That said, he was right (and occasionally witty) on a number of points.
At Cambridge they taught me that his profits were the reward of abstinence...Then came the question: what did my father abstain from? The workmen abstained from meat, drink, fresh air, good clothes, decent lodging, holidays, money, the society of their families and pretty nearly everything that makes life worth living, which was perhaps the reason why they usually died twenty years or so sooner than people in my circumstances. Yet no one rewarded them for their abstinence. The reward came to my father, who abstained from none of these things, but indulged in them all to his heart's content (94).
Pages 272-273 contain as good an account of globalisation and the move of industry to countries of cheaper labour as any written today, though he believed the workers would follow the jobs. He writes:
As the British factories are shut up, they will be replaced by villas; the manufacturing districts will become fashionable resorts for capitalists living on the interest of foreign investments... (273)
It did take a while for this to happen, but I got a little chill reading that.
On the other hand, had I written down every grating insult to women phrased as wit contained in these pages, this post would have been as long as the book. I don't know why these two in particular called me to mark them as I feel sure there was worse, but still:
But we Socialists need to study the romantic side of our movement to interest women in it. If you want to make a cause grow, instruct every woman you meet in it. She is or will one day be a wife, and will contradict her husband with scraps of your arguments. A squabble will follow. The son will listen, and will be set thinking if he be capable of thought. And so the mind of the people gets leavened. I have converted many young women. Most of them know no more of the economic theory of Socialism than they know of Chaldee; but they no longer fear or condemn its name (283).
On reflection, the quote below might just have been the most infuriating. I hadn't wanted to punch an author in the stomach this much since reading Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, but that feeling started up from the very beginning when he abandons his wife and commences flirting with several 17-year old school girls.
Yes; you sometimes have to answer a woman according to her womanishness, just as you have to answer a fool according to his folly (333).
Socialist women certainly had their work cut out for them in fighting for respect, a place and a voice in this movement. It makes the efforts of those like all the more impressive, and I now blame Shaw and his ilk entirely for their steadfast seriousness and abandonment of any kind of 'femininity' as they battled to overturn the image of flighty, emotional society women incapable of serious thought presented here. What a waste of women's effort.
The geographies of this? From a countryside finishing school to London houses in Belsize Park and St John's Wood and back out to a baron's country house...far from the London I know and love.
May 28, 2020
賰鬲丕亘 賱亘乇賳丕乇丿 卮賵 賮賷 賳賯丿 賲賵爻賷賯賶 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷 賮丕噩賳乇
賮賷 丕賱亘丿亍 鬲丨爻亘 兀賳賾 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲噩乇丿 賳賯丿 賲賵爻賷賯賶 賱毓賲賱 兀賵亘乇丕賱賷 毓丕丿賷 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷賰卮賮 亘賷乇賳丕乇丿 卮賵 毓賳 卮賷亍 賰亘賷乇 噩丿丕 賵賴賵 兀賳賾 毓賲賱 賮丕噩賳乇 丕賱毓馗賷賲 (禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳亘賷賷賱賵賳噩) 賴賷 丿乇丕賲丕 賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 乇賲夭賷丞 亘丕賱睾丞 丕賱兀孬乇貙 賵賴賷 亘毓賲賯賴丕 賵兀氐丕賱鬲賴丕 鬲卮賰賱 丕賱乇丕賮丿 丕賱賮賱爻賮賷 鈥徹з勜Ｘ池ж迟� 賱兀胤乇賵丨丕鬲 賳賷鬲卮賴 賵廿賳爻丕賳賴 丕賱兀毓賱賶貙 賵賷賻毓鬲亘賽乇 毓丿丿 賰亘賷乇 噩丿丕 賲賳 丕賱丿丕乇爻賷賳 兀賳 賴匕賴 丕賱丿乇丕賲丕 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 卮賰賱鬲 丿賵乇丕賸 賲丨賵乇賷丕 賮賷 丕賱廿賳亘毓丕孬 丕賱丨囟丕乇賷 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷 賵廿爻鬲賳賴丕囟 丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱兀賲乇 丕賱匕賷 丨丿丕 亘賴鬲賱乇 兀賳 賷睾賱賵 賮賷 鬲賵噩賴賴 賳丨賵 丕賱爻賱胤丞 賵丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 賵鬲賯丿賷爻 丕賱噩賳爻 丕賱丌乇賷 賵賴賵 亘賱丕 卮賰 丨賷丕丿 毓賳 鬲賵噩賴 賮丕噩賳乇 鈥徺堌з勝呚官勝� 亘廿卮丕毓丞 乇賵丨 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 賵丨亘 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱鬲丨乇乇 賲賳 丕賱爻賷胤乇丞 丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 賵賰賱 賲丕 賯亘賷丨.
鬲鬲賰賵賳 丿乇丕賲丕 禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賷賱賵賳噩 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 賲賳 兀乇亘毓 賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲:听 賳賴乇 丕賱乇丕賷賳貙 冥丕賱賰賷乇賷貙 爻賷噩賮乇賷丿貙 賵睾乇賵亘 丕賱丌賱賴丞.
鈥徹簇� 禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賷賱賵賳噩 亘丕賱丌賱賴丞 賵丕賱兀賯夭丕賲 賵丕賱毓賲丕賱賯丞 賵丕賱冥丕賱賰賷乇賷丕鬲 賵丕賱噩賳賷丕鬲 賵丕賱亘卮乇 丨賷孬 丕爻鬲賱賴賲 賮丕睾賳乇 兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賳賵乇夭 賵丕賱鬲賷賵鬲賵賳 賵賴賷 兀爻丕胤賷乇 廿爻賰賳丿賳丕賮賷丞 賵兀賱賲丕賳賷丞貙 賯丕賲 賮丕噩賳乇 亘鬲賵馗賷賮 噩賲賷毓 賴匕賴 丕賱毓賳丕氐乇 賱丨賳賷丕賸 賵噩毓賱 賲賳賴丕 乇賲賵夭丕賸 賱賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇 賵丕賱噩賲丕賱 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵丕賱丨亘 賮賷 毓賲賱 丿乇丕賲賷 噩匕亘 廿賱賷賴 噩賲賷毓 丕賱賲賴鬲賲賷賳 鈥徹ㄘз勜Ｘ� 賵丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵丕賱賮賱爻賮丞 賮賷 毓氐乇賴.
噩丿賷乇 亘丕賱匕賰乇 兀賳賾 兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賳賵乇夭 賵丕賱鬲賷賵鬲賵賳 鬲鬲賲丨賵乇 丨賵賱 孬賱丕孬 毓賯丕卅丿 賵賴賷 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 賵兀亘丿賷丞 丕賱氐乇丕毓 亘賷賳 丕賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇 賵鬲賮賵賯 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丌賱賴丞.
賮賷 丕賱亘丿亍 鬲丨爻亘 兀賳賾 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賲噩乇丿 賳賯丿 賲賵爻賷賯賶 賱毓賲賱 兀賵亘乇丕賱賷 毓丕丿賷 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷賰卮賮 亘賷乇賳丕乇丿 卮賵 毓賳 卮賷亍 賰亘賷乇 噩丿丕 賵賴賵 兀賳賾 毓賲賱 賮丕噩賳乇 丕賱毓馗賷賲 (禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳亘賷賷賱賵賳噩) 賴賷 丿乇丕賲丕 賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 乇賲夭賷丞 亘丕賱睾丞 丕賱兀孬乇貙 賵賴賷 亘毓賲賯賴丕 賵兀氐丕賱鬲賴丕 鬲卮賰賱 丕賱乇丕賮丿 丕賱賮賱爻賮賷 鈥徹з勜Ｘ池ж迟� 賱兀胤乇賵丨丕鬲 賳賷鬲卮賴 賵廿賳爻丕賳賴 丕賱兀毓賱賶貙 賵賷賻毓鬲亘賽乇 毓丿丿 賰亘賷乇 噩丿丕 賲賳 丕賱丿丕乇爻賷賳 兀賳 賴匕賴 丕賱丿乇丕賲丕 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 卮賰賱鬲 丿賵乇丕賸 賲丨賵乇賷丕 賮賷 丕賱廿賳亘毓丕孬 丕賱丨囟丕乇賷 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷 賵廿爻鬲賳賴丕囟 丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷丞 丕賱兀賲乇 丕賱匕賷 丨丿丕 亘賴鬲賱乇 兀賳 賷睾賱賵 賮賷 鬲賵噩賴賴 賳丨賵 丕賱爻賱胤丞 賵丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 賵鬲賯丿賷爻 丕賱噩賳爻 丕賱丌乇賷 賵賴賵 亘賱丕 卮賰 丨賷丕丿 毓賳 鬲賵噩賴 賮丕噩賳乇 鈥徺堌з勝呚官勝� 亘廿卮丕毓丞 乇賵丨 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 賵丨亘 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賵丕賱鬲丨乇乇 賲賳 丕賱爻賷胤乇丞 丕賱賲丕丿賷丞 賵賰賱 賲丕 賯亘賷丨.
鬲鬲賰賵賳 丿乇丕賲丕 禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賷賱賵賳噩 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 賲賳 兀乇亘毓 賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲:听 賳賴乇 丕賱乇丕賷賳貙 冥丕賱賰賷乇賷貙 爻賷噩賮乇賷丿貙 賵睾乇賵亘 丕賱丌賱賴丞.
鈥徹簇� 禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賷賱賵賳噩 亘丕賱丌賱賴丞 賵丕賱兀賯夭丕賲 賵丕賱毓賲丕賱賯丞 賵丕賱冥丕賱賰賷乇賷丕鬲 賵丕賱噩賳賷丕鬲 賵丕賱亘卮乇 丨賷孬 丕爻鬲賱賴賲 賮丕睾賳乇 兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賳賵乇夭 賵丕賱鬲賷賵鬲賵賳 賵賴賷 兀爻丕胤賷乇 廿爻賰賳丿賳丕賮賷丞 賵兀賱賲丕賳賷丞貙 賯丕賲 賮丕噩賳乇 亘鬲賵馗賷賮 噩賲賷毓 賴匕賴 丕賱毓賳丕氐乇 賱丨賳賷丕賸 賵噩毓賱 賲賳賴丕 乇賲賵夭丕賸 賱賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇 賵丕賱噩賲丕賱 賵丕賱噩卮毓 賵丕賱丨亘 賮賷 毓賲賱 丿乇丕賲賷 噩匕亘 廿賱賷賴 噩賲賷毓 丕賱賲賴鬲賲賷賳 鈥徹ㄘз勜Ｘ� 賵丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵丕賱賮賱爻賮丞 賮賷 毓氐乇賴.
噩丿賷乇 亘丕賱匕賰乇 兀賳賾 兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賳賵乇夭 賵丕賱鬲賷賵鬲賵賳 鬲鬲賲丨賵乇 丨賵賱 孬賱丕孬 毓賯丕卅丿 賵賴賷 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 賵兀亘丿賷丞 丕賱氐乇丕毓 亘賷賳 丕賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇 賵鬲賮賵賯 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賱丌賱賴丞.
December 20, 2015
It was back in the days, when I had a compulsion for buying books, that I found myself in the back alleys of the famous M.G. Road in Bangalore. I was wandering without purpose when I found myself in front of a second-hand-book-store. I was in love with graphic novels then, having discovered Moore recently, but my browsing through the shop resulted in 
. I made a mental note to come back to the shop again when I needed books but, as happens with most notes, it got lost and I never went back to that shop. However, the book persisted in my collection; hopping shelves in Bangalore and Delhi before I picked it up recently, almost two years since I had picked it up from the small store in Bangalore.
I was introduced to G.B. Shaw in Roorkee through "Candida", one of the plays that was a part of an elective course. I liked his writing then and I had remembered this book being mentioned by a then close friend over our endless telephonic discussions. Hence Shaw's novel was something that held an intrigue and I was looking forward to what lay in store. The novel proved to be quite amusing. The story was interlaced with dollops of humour, so subtle that I still wonder about what it was that the author tried to mock! I initially thought he was mocking socialism, but later it seemed his views on socialism were in the earnest. Maybe the Victorian society as such. Or maybe there was no mockery at all, the humour being a result of the ridiculous nature of the conflicting demands of society from individuals.
The story revolves around a certain Sidney Trefusis who is introduced as an eccentric character. Having found his marriage unbearable, he flees his wife and hides from her. He takes up the life of a common wage worker and is introduced to the young ladies in Alton College, in whose vicinity he has chosen to hide. His social conduct is appalling and he tries his best to cause outrage in social settings and gatherings. His grooming, which he tries to shun so, comes back in his dealings with the ladies of the society, who he never fails to charm. The story twists and turns with Trefusis's socialist propaganda and his resumed social contact with a three ladies of Alton : Jane, Getrude and Agatha. There are flirtations and outrages and absurd social meetings. With Sidney nothing is ever quite simple!
The novel lived up to any expectation that I might have had from it. It was fast paced and thoroughly entertaining. I specially liked the subtle humour and the complete unassuming way that Shaw had weaved it with his story. This will definitely make me look up more of Shaw's novels in the future.
. I made a mental note to come back to the shop again when I needed books but, as happens with most notes, it got lost and I never went back to that shop. However, the book persisted in my collection; hopping shelves in Bangalore and Delhi before I picked it up recently, almost two years since I had picked it up from the small store in Bangalore.I was introduced to G.B. Shaw in Roorkee through "Candida", one of the plays that was a part of an elective course. I liked his writing then and I had remembered this book being mentioned by a then close friend over our endless telephonic discussions. Hence Shaw's novel was something that held an intrigue and I was looking forward to what lay in store. The novel proved to be quite amusing. The story was interlaced with dollops of humour, so subtle that I still wonder about what it was that the author tried to mock! I initially thought he was mocking socialism, but later it seemed his views on socialism were in the earnest. Maybe the Victorian society as such. Or maybe there was no mockery at all, the humour being a result of the ridiculous nature of the conflicting demands of society from individuals.
The story revolves around a certain Sidney Trefusis who is introduced as an eccentric character. Having found his marriage unbearable, he flees his wife and hides from her. He takes up the life of a common wage worker and is introduced to the young ladies in Alton College, in whose vicinity he has chosen to hide. His social conduct is appalling and he tries his best to cause outrage in social settings and gatherings. His grooming, which he tries to shun so, comes back in his dealings with the ladies of the society, who he never fails to charm. The story twists and turns with Trefusis's socialist propaganda and his resumed social contact with a three ladies of Alton : Jane, Getrude and Agatha. There are flirtations and outrages and absurd social meetings. With Sidney nothing is ever quite simple!
The novel lived up to any expectation that I might have had from it. It was fast paced and thoroughly entertaining. I specially liked the subtle humour and the complete unassuming way that Shaw had weaved it with his story. This will definitely make me look up more of Shaw's novels in the future.
January 15, 2011
丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賷丿賵乇 丨賵賱 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 亘乇賳丕乇丿 卮賵 廿賱賶 賲爻乇丨賷丞 (禺丕鬲賲 丕賱賳賷亘賷賱賵賳噩) 亘兀噩夭丕卅賴丕 丕賱兀乇亘毓丞 賱賮丕噩賳乇貙貙
賵賴賷 賲爻鬲賯丕丞 賲賳 毓丕賱賲 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 賵丕賱丌賱賴丞 賵丕賱兀乇賵丕丨 賵丕賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇貙 賵賱賰賳 (卮賵) 賱丕 賷乇丕賴丕 賰匕賱賰貙 賮賴賵 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕賷 賷爻賯胤 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘毓丿 鬲賱禺賷氐賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賵丕賱賳馗賲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賰賲賴 賵乇賲賵夭 卮禺氐賷丕鬲賴丕 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇賷丞 賵廿賱丕賲 鬲乇賲夭 賲賳 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱賵丕賯毓 ..
孬賲 賷賯賵賱 賮賷 賲噩丕賱 丕賱乇丿 毓賲賳 賯丿 賷賯賵賱 兀賳 (賮丕噩賳乇) 賱賲 賷賯氐丿 賴匕賴 丕賱廿爻賯丕胤丕鬲 賵廿賳賲丕 兀賳賳丕 兀賲丕賲 毓賲賱 賮賳賷 噩賲賷賱 賱丕 睾賷乇貙 賮賯丕賱 (卮賵): 兀賳賳丕 賳賲賷賱 廿賱賶 鬲兀賱賷賴 丕賱毓亘丕賯乇丞 鬲兀賱賷賴賳丕 賱賱賯賵丞 丕賱禺丕賱賯丞 賱賱賰賵賳貙 賮賳毓夭賵 廿賱賶 丕賱賲賳胤賯 賵丕賱鬲丿亘賷乇 賲丕 賯丿 鬲賲賱賷賴 丕賱睾夭賷乇丞貙 .. 貙 賵丨賷賳 胤賱亘 廿賱賶 賲賵鬲爻丕乇鬲 兀賳 賷賮爻乇 兀毓賲丕賱賴 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 兀噩丕亘 亘賯賵賱賴 : 賴賷賴丕鬲 兀賳 兀毓賱賲!
孬賲 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 賮丕噩賳乇 賵毓賳 賵賯鬲 禺乇賵噩 兀噩夭丕亍 賲爻乇丨賷丞 丕賱禺丕鬲賲貙 賱賷賯賵賱 亘兀賳賴 賲賳 丕賱毓亘孬 兀賳 賷賯賵賱 賴匕丕 毓丕賯賱貙 賱兀賳 噩賲賷毓 丕賱馗乇賵賮 鬲孬亘鬲 兀賳 賮丕噩賳乇 兀乇丕丿 兀賳 賷賯賵賱 賰賱賲鬲賴 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 毓亘乇 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞貙 賵兀賳 賮丕噩賳乇 賳賮爻賴 賰鬲亘 廿賱賶 氐丿賷賯 賱賴 賯丕卅賱丕:
兀賳 丕賱賮賳丕賳 賷丨爻 賵賴賵 亘賷賳 賷丿賷 廿賳鬲丕噩賴 - 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳鬲丕噩 賮賳賸丕 禺丕賱氐賸丕 - 兀賳賴 丨賷丕賱 賱睾夭 睾丕賲囟 賯丿 鬲爻丕賵乇賴 賴賵 兀賷囟賸丕 兀賵賴丕賲 賲孬賱賲丕 鬲爻丕賵乇 睾賷乇賴 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 爻賵丕亍 亘爻賵丕亍
匕賰乇鬲賳賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賳賯胤丞 亘乇賲賵夭 賳噩賷亘 賲丨賮賵馗!
孬賲 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵兀賱丨丕賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 (丕賱鬲賷 賱丨賳賾賴丕 賯丕噩賳乇貙 賵賰鬲亘 賳氐賵氐賴丕) 賲亘賷賳賸丕 丌賷丕鬲 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賮賷賴丕貙 賵賱賲 兀爻鬲賲毓 廿賱賷賴丕 賵賱賲 兀賮賴賲 鬲賲丕賲丕 賲丕 賷賯賵賱 賵賱賰賳 丨丿賷孬賴 賰丕賳 卮丕卅賯賸丕 毓賱賶 兀賷 丨丕賱 ..
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丕賱賰鬲丕亘 鬲乇噩賲丞 孬乇賵鬲 毓賰丕卮丞 賵賵賯毓 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞 賮賷 禺胤兀 賱睾賵賷 兀賲賯鬲賴 賱鬲賰乇丕乇賴 賵卮賷賵毓賴貙 賵賰賳鬲 兀丨賰賲 毓賱賶 賲賳 賷賯毓賵賳 賮賷賴 亘廿賮鬲賯丕乇賴賲 廿賱賶 丕賱丨爻 丕賱賱睾賵賷 賵兀賳 賰丕鬲亘賴 賲丕夭丕賱 毓賳丿 禺胤 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞貙 賵匕賱賰 賴賵 賰鬲丕亘丞 (爻賵賷賸丕) 亘賲毓賳賶 (賲毓賸丕) 賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱兀噩丿乇 兀賳 賷鬲賳夭賾賴 毓賳 匕賱賰!
賵賴賷 賲爻鬲賯丕丞 賲賳 毓丕賱賲 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 賵丕賱丌賱賴丞 賵丕賱兀乇賵丕丨 賵丕賱禺賷乇 賵丕賱卮乇貙 賵賱賰賳 (卮賵) 賱丕 賷乇丕賴丕 賰匕賱賰貙 賮賴賵 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賰鬲丕賷 賷爻賯胤 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘毓丿 鬲賱禺賷氐賴丕 毓賱賶 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賵丕賱賳馗賲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賰賲賴 賵乇賲賵夭 卮禺氐賷丕鬲賴丕 丕賱兀爻胤賵乇賷丞 賵廿賱丕賲 鬲乇賲夭 賲賳 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱賵丕賯毓 ..
孬賲 賷賯賵賱 賮賷 賲噩丕賱 丕賱乇丿 毓賲賳 賯丿 賷賯賵賱 兀賳 (賮丕噩賳乇) 賱賲 賷賯氐丿 賴匕賴 丕賱廿爻賯丕胤丕鬲 賵廿賳賲丕 兀賳賳丕 兀賲丕賲 毓賲賱 賮賳賷 噩賲賷賱 賱丕 睾賷乇貙 賮賯丕賱 (卮賵): 兀賳賳丕 賳賲賷賱 廿賱賶 鬲兀賱賷賴 丕賱毓亘丕賯乇丞 鬲兀賱賷賴賳丕 賱賱賯賵丞 丕賱禺丕賱賯丞 賱賱賰賵賳貙 賮賳毓夭賵 廿賱賶 丕賱賲賳胤賯 賵丕賱鬲丿亘賷乇 賲丕 賯丿 鬲賲賱賷賴 丕賱睾夭賷乇丞貙 .. 貙 賵丨賷賳 胤賱亘 廿賱賶 賲賵鬲爻丕乇鬲 兀賳 賷賮爻乇 兀毓賲丕賱賴 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賷丞 兀噩丕亘 亘賯賵賱賴 : 賴賷賴丕鬲 兀賳 兀毓賱賲!
孬賲 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 賮丕噩賳乇 賵毓賳 賵賯鬲 禺乇賵噩 兀噩夭丕亍 賲爻乇丨賷丞 丕賱禺丕鬲賲貙 賱賷賯賵賱 亘兀賳賴 賲賳 丕賱毓亘孬 兀賳 賷賯賵賱 賴匕丕 毓丕賯賱貙 賱兀賳 噩賲賷毓 丕賱馗乇賵賮 鬲孬亘鬲 兀賳 賮丕噩賳乇 兀乇丕丿 兀賳 賷賯賵賱 賰賱賲鬲賴 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 毓亘乇 丕賱兀爻丕胤賷乇 丕賱賯丿賷賲丞貙 賵兀賳 賮丕噩賳乇 賳賮爻賴 賰鬲亘 廿賱賶 氐丿賷賯 賱賴 賯丕卅賱丕:
兀賳 丕賱賮賳丕賳 賷丨爻 賵賴賵 亘賷賳 賷丿賷 廿賳鬲丕噩賴 - 廿匕丕 賰丕賳 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳鬲丕噩 賮賳賸丕 禺丕賱氐賸丕 - 兀賳賴 丨賷丕賱 賱睾夭 睾丕賲囟 賯丿 鬲爻丕賵乇賴 賴賵 兀賷囟賸丕 兀賵賴丕賲 賲孬賱賲丕 鬲爻丕賵乇 睾賷乇賴 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 爻賵丕亍 亘爻賵丕亍
匕賰乇鬲賳賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賳賯胤丞 亘乇賲賵夭 賳噩賷亘 賲丨賮賵馗!
孬賲 賷鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵兀賱丨丕賳 賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 (丕賱鬲賷 賱丨賳賾賴丕 賯丕噩賳乇貙 賵賰鬲亘 賳氐賵氐賴丕) 賲亘賷賳賸丕 丌賷丕鬲 丕賱毓亘賯乇賷丞 賮賷賴丕貙 賵賱賲 兀爻鬲賲毓 廿賱賷賴丕 賵賱賲 兀賮賴賲 鬲賲丕賲丕 賲丕 賷賯賵賱 賵賱賰賳 丨丿賷孬賴 賰丕賳 卮丕卅賯賸丕 毓賱賶 兀賷 丨丕賱 ..
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丕賱賰鬲丕亘 鬲乇噩賲丞 孬乇賵鬲 毓賰丕卮丞 賵賵賯毓 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 賲乇丞 賮賷 禺胤兀 賱睾賵賷 兀賲賯鬲賴 賱鬲賰乇丕乇賴 賵卮賷賵毓賴貙 賵賰賳鬲 兀丨賰賲 毓賱賶 賲賳 賷賯毓賵賳 賮賷賴 亘廿賮鬲賯丕乇賴賲 廿賱賶 丕賱丨爻 丕賱賱睾賵賷 賵兀賳 賰丕鬲亘賴 賲丕夭丕賱 毓賳丿 禺胤 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞貙 賵匕賱賰 賴賵 賰鬲丕亘丞 (爻賵賷賸丕) 亘賲毓賳賶 (賲毓賸丕) 賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱兀噩丿乇 兀賳 賷鬲賳夭賾賴 毓賳 匕賱賰!
June 9, 2014
You don't have to love the main character to love the book!! This is a great story with twisting plot and sharp, clever prose. Typical GBS!
May 10, 2024
Never mind tomorrow. Be like the sun and the meadow, which are not in the least concerned about the coming winter.
I cannot sit at their feasts knowing how much they cost in human misery, and seeing how little they produce of human happiness.
The world is mad nowadays, and is galloping to the deuce as fast as greed can goad it.
I am trying to offend you in order to save myself from falling in love with you. Some fiend enters into me when I am at your side.
You will find three classes of men polite to you鈥攕laves, men who think much of their manners and nothing of you, and your lovers.
She now guessed what was coming, not because she intended to accept, but because, she counted the proposals of marriage she received as a Red Indian counts the scalps he takes.
If they hesitate to strip us naked, or to cut our throats if we offer them the smallest resistance, they will show us more mercy than we ever showed them.
He thinks more highly of you than you deserve; but you, on the other hand, think too lowly of him. When you marry him you must save him from a cruel disenchantment by raising yourself to the level he fancies you have attained.
I began by talking sense, like a man of honor, and kept at it for half an hour, but she would not listen to me. Then I talked romantic nonsense of the cheapest sort for five minutes, and she consented with tears in her eyes.
I cannot sit at their feasts knowing how much they cost in human misery, and seeing how little they produce of human happiness.
The world is mad nowadays, and is galloping to the deuce as fast as greed can goad it.
I am trying to offend you in order to save myself from falling in love with you. Some fiend enters into me when I am at your side.
You will find three classes of men polite to you鈥攕laves, men who think much of their manners and nothing of you, and your lovers.
She now guessed what was coming, not because she intended to accept, but because, she counted the proposals of marriage she received as a Red Indian counts the scalps he takes.
If they hesitate to strip us naked, or to cut our throats if we offer them the smallest resistance, they will show us more mercy than we ever showed them.
He thinks more highly of you than you deserve; but you, on the other hand, think too lowly of him. When you marry him you must save him from a cruel disenchantment by raising yourself to the level he fancies you have attained.
I began by talking sense, like a man of honor, and kept at it for half an hour, but she would not listen to me. Then I talked romantic nonsense of the cheapest sort for five minutes, and she consented with tears in her eyes.
June 9, 2014
Really enjoyable read, stirred up strong feelings!
April 30, 2023
鈥淥 Altru铆sta鈥�, mais conhecido pelo t铆tulo 鈥淯nsocial Socialist鈥� n茫o me era de todo conhecido at茅 ter visto este exemplar velhinho, que ter谩 passado por v谩rias m茫os antes de chegar 脿s prateleiras da @lerdevagar do Mercado de 脫bidos. Se ainda n茫o foram, fa莽am este favor 馃槉
Este livro fez-me, em primeiro lugar, retomar a uma 茅poca que se caraterizava pela leitura de romances leves, em que a mulher n茫o mais esperava do que ter a ambi莽茫o de casar e ter filhos, ap贸s passar por uma educa莽茫o um quanto excessivamente religiosa. At茅 chegar 脿 parte da s谩tira, que para mim nunca foi subtil, mas antes direta.
鈥淧ara nossa desgra莽a, a mis茅ria s贸rdida e o horror sem esperan莽a do seu estudo sobre o destino do homem aplica-se ainda t茫o bem 脿 sociedade de hoje que o consideramos como o representante, n茫o de uma 茅poca mas de todas.鈥�
Na forma de Sydney Tr茅fusis, um jovem antisocial que abdica da sua riqueza para lutar pelos direitos das classes oper谩rias e camponeses, ideais socialistas s茫o propagados no romance, tendo tamb茅m como fundo uma hist贸ria de amor( que provavelmente 茅 muito estranha de se descrever, confesso). No entanto, talvez pelo rid铆culo da situa莽茫o, dei por mim a rir nalgumas partes.
A mensagem do livro est谩 t茫o atual que dir铆amos que, em todos os s茅culos, nunca nos poder铆amos esquecer desta mensagem mas, no entanto, fazemos.
鈥減orque os homens modernos adoram os ricos como se fossem deuses e escolhem para os governar um homem s贸 pela raz茫o de ser milion谩rio.鈥�
Este livro fez-me, em primeiro lugar, retomar a uma 茅poca que se caraterizava pela leitura de romances leves, em que a mulher n茫o mais esperava do que ter a ambi莽茫o de casar e ter filhos, ap贸s passar por uma educa莽茫o um quanto excessivamente religiosa. At茅 chegar 脿 parte da s谩tira, que para mim nunca foi subtil, mas antes direta.
鈥淧ara nossa desgra莽a, a mis茅ria s贸rdida e o horror sem esperan莽a do seu estudo sobre o destino do homem aplica-se ainda t茫o bem 脿 sociedade de hoje que o consideramos como o representante, n茫o de uma 茅poca mas de todas.鈥�
Na forma de Sydney Tr茅fusis, um jovem antisocial que abdica da sua riqueza para lutar pelos direitos das classes oper谩rias e camponeses, ideais socialistas s茫o propagados no romance, tendo tamb茅m como fundo uma hist贸ria de amor( que provavelmente 茅 muito estranha de se descrever, confesso). No entanto, talvez pelo rid铆culo da situa莽茫o, dei por mim a rir nalgumas partes.
A mensagem do livro est谩 t茫o atual que dir铆amos que, em todos os s茅culos, nunca nos poder铆amos esquecer desta mensagem mas, no entanto, fazemos.
鈥減orque os homens modernos adoram os ricos como se fossem deuses e escolhem para os governar um homem s贸 pela raz茫o de ser milion谩rio.鈥�
April 22, 2020
A sinopse deste livro prometia muito, mas n茫o gostei tanto como estava 脿 espera. N茫o senti empatia pelo protagonista ou por qualquer outra personagem (talvez, Agatha), achei a hist贸ria incoerente. Come莽ou muito bem, e acabou como um romance aborrecido e sem l贸gica.
O livro 茅, supostamente, uma s谩tira ao socialismo, mas n茫o o entendi assim. Sim, o protagonista era uma caricatura, algo bastante exagerado, mas era sobretudo arrogante, confuso, e estranho. N茫o recomendo.
No entanto, gostei muito de uma passagem e, apesar de o livro ter sido escrito no s茅culo XIX, est谩 extremamente actual: "os homens modernos adoram os ricos como deuses e elegem algu茅m para seu governante por nenhuma outra raz茫o sen茫o por esse homem ser milion谩rio". Em 1884, j谩 se falava de Donald Trump鈥�
O livro 茅, supostamente, uma s谩tira ao socialismo, mas n茫o o entendi assim. Sim, o protagonista era uma caricatura, algo bastante exagerado, mas era sobretudo arrogante, confuso, e estranho. N茫o recomendo.
No entanto, gostei muito de uma passagem e, apesar de o livro ter sido escrito no s茅culo XIX, est谩 extremamente actual: "os homens modernos adoram os ricos como deuses e elegem algu茅m para seu governante por nenhuma outra raz茫o sen茫o por esse homem ser milion谩rio". Em 1884, j谩 se falava de Donald Trump鈥�
Currently reading
July 15, 2020I am reading the Riverside edition of this book. Apparently irrelevant details show the Fabian orientation of the narrative. Facts such as the sliding down of bannisters in stairways, something which seems odd and old but which I still see here in my island, seem to link Shaw to punks of today. The novel narrates the life of a young man whcih is a socialist. Sensitive young girls are over selfrightous and carry all the responsabilities. Bankers are ironic and not sour people like characters in Dickens novels. Shaw麓s mind may seem to side him with the wealthy, but the fact is he is very realistic.
June 25, 2010
An old-fashioned read, I'm afraid.
What starts as a light-hearted description of events at a school for girls, finishes as an embarrassingly boring romance, with some pages on socialism thrown in between.
Witty remarks ('a polite lady who refrained from staring but not from observing') were too scarce to save the book.
What starts as a light-hearted description of events at a school for girls, finishes as an embarrassingly boring romance, with some pages on socialism thrown in between.
Witty remarks ('a polite lady who refrained from staring but not from observing') were too scarce to save the book.
January 3, 2013
A bit old fashioned type of writing and social satire, but a gentle presentation of the origins and the ideas of the socialist movement, especially of the shocking social segregation "by income"...
I liked it. Easy and quick read. I want to read more of G.B.Shaw, as I think that a lot of what he writes still resonates today.
I liked it. Easy and quick read. I want to read more of G.B.Shaw, as I think that a lot of what he writes still resonates today.
Read
June 13, 2011This is a story that was amazing for its time. It's too English for my personal fiction tastes, but I do see how it would be considered excellently produced literature. Thematically, the female characters are really quite special for the period.
February 12, 2017
醿溼儛醿涐儞醿曖儤醿氠儛醿� 醿欋儛醿犪儝醿� 醿儤醿掅儨醿樶儛 醿涐儛醿椺儣醿曖儤醿� 醿曖儤醿♂儛醿� 醿曖儛醿掅儨醿斸儬醿� 醿ａ儳醿曖儛醿犪儭 醿撫儛 醿涐儛醿椺儣醿曖儤醿♂儛醿� 醿曖儤醿♂儛醿� 醿溼儩醿犪儞醿ａ儦醿� 醿涐儤醿椺儩醿氠儩醿掅儤醿� 醿愥儤醿溼儮醿斸儬醿斸儭醿斸儜醿� <3
February 21, 2019
醿涐儺醿濁儦醿濁儞 醿掅儛醿溼儺醿樶儦醿曖儛 醿愥儬 醿掅償醿掅儩醿溼儩醿� 醿ａ儰醿犪儩 醿涐償醿⑨儤醿�
醿偿醿ㄡ儧醿愥儬醿樶儮醿愥儞
醿偿醿ㄡ儧醿愥儬醿樶儮醿愥儞
January 5, 2021
Entertaining. If you enjoyed Pygmalion or Oscar Wilde鈥檚 Dorian Grey or Importance of Being Earnest then you鈥檒l enjoy the witty wordplay and conversation of the gentleman himself Jeffrey Smilash.
December 8, 2024
Bernard Shaw okumay谋 liseden beri akl谋mdan ge莽iriyordum fakat hep 枚nemsemeyip erteledim. Tesad眉fen biri bu kitab谋 bana 枚d眉n莽 vermeyi teklif etti臒i i莽in zaman谋 geldi deyip ba艧lad谋m.
Ana karakterin Engels'ten esinlenildi臒i kan谋s谋na kap谋ld谋m. Ondan esinlenilmi艧 bir karikat眉r. Dikkat: Engels'in bir karikat眉r眉 de臒il, ondan esinlenilip karikat眉r haline getirilmi艧 bir karakter.
Ana karakter, Manchester'l谋 bir pamuk t眉ccar谋, iplik fabrikas谋 sahibinin o臒lu. Engels de, ayn谋 i艧i yapan bir fabrikat枚r眉n o臒lu. Karakterimiz, e艧i 枚ld眉kten sonra e艧inin k谋z karde艧iyle evleniyor. Engels, gayr谋 resmi e艧i (evlenmediler) 枚ld眉kten sonra onun k谋z karde艧iyle evlendi. Yine, karakterimiz, gelirini Uluslararas谋 陌艧莽i Birli臒i'ni kurmak i莽in yapt谋臒谋 莽al谋艧malara harc谋yor. 'Yolda艧'lar谋na maddi yard谋mda bulunmaktan ka莽谋nm谋yor. Engels, Uluslararas谋 陌艧莽i Birli臒i'nin kurucular谋ndand谋r ve Marks'谋n ge莽im kaynaklar谋ndan biridir. Ayr谋ca Engels'in g眉zel kad谋nlara d眉艧k眉n, fl枚rt枚z bir adam oldu臒unu anlat谋r onu tan谋yanlar. Karakterimiz de kad谋nlarla her f谋rsatta fl枚rt etmeyi seven biri.
Roman hakk谋nda fazla bir ara艧t谋rmaya giri艧medi臒imden esinlenme izlenimimin do臒ru olup olmad谋臒谋n谋 枚臒renemedim. Yine de, b枚yle d眉艧眉nmek i莽in yeterince data var san谋r谋m.
Roman olarak, hem estetik a莽谋dan hem de derinlik a莽谋s谋ndan, beklentimin alt谋nda kalsa da, asla be臒enmedi臒imi s枚yleyemem. 脟ok g眉ld眉臒眉m c眉mleler oldu. Bernard Shaw'谋n mizah谋n谋 sevdim.
艦枚yle bir 枚zelli臒i de var: 陌ngiliz kapitalizminin geli艧im s眉recini ana karakterin diyaloglar谋 arac谋l谋臒谋yla 枚zet bi莽iminde aktarm谋艧. Karakterinde esinlendi臒ini d眉艧眉nd眉臒眉m Engels'in kitaplar谋nda yazanlar谋n ayn谋s谋. Ger莽ekten bire bir ayn谋s谋. Bunu neden tercih etmi艧, hi莽bir fikrim yok. Romana zay谋fl谋k verdi臒ini d眉艧眉n眉yorum.
Son olarak; bu kitab谋 oyun olarak biliyordum elime alana kadar. De臒ilmi艧 demek ki...
Ana karakterin Engels'ten esinlenildi臒i kan谋s谋na kap谋ld谋m. Ondan esinlenilmi艧 bir karikat眉r. Dikkat: Engels'in bir karikat眉r眉 de臒il, ondan esinlenilip karikat眉r haline getirilmi艧 bir karakter.
Ana karakter, Manchester'l谋 bir pamuk t眉ccar谋, iplik fabrikas谋 sahibinin o臒lu. Engels de, ayn谋 i艧i yapan bir fabrikat枚r眉n o臒lu. Karakterimiz, e艧i 枚ld眉kten sonra e艧inin k谋z karde艧iyle evleniyor. Engels, gayr谋 resmi e艧i (evlenmediler) 枚ld眉kten sonra onun k谋z karde艧iyle evlendi. Yine, karakterimiz, gelirini Uluslararas谋 陌艧莽i Birli臒i'ni kurmak i莽in yapt谋臒谋 莽al谋艧malara harc谋yor. 'Yolda艧'lar谋na maddi yard谋mda bulunmaktan ka莽谋nm谋yor. Engels, Uluslararas谋 陌艧莽i Birli臒i'nin kurucular谋ndand谋r ve Marks'谋n ge莽im kaynaklar谋ndan biridir. Ayr谋ca Engels'in g眉zel kad谋nlara d眉艧k眉n, fl枚rt枚z bir adam oldu臒unu anlat谋r onu tan谋yanlar. Karakterimiz de kad谋nlarla her f谋rsatta fl枚rt etmeyi seven biri.
Roman hakk谋nda fazla bir ara艧t谋rmaya giri艧medi臒imden esinlenme izlenimimin do臒ru olup olmad谋臒谋n谋 枚臒renemedim. Yine de, b枚yle d眉艧眉nmek i莽in yeterince data var san谋r谋m.
Roman olarak, hem estetik a莽谋dan hem de derinlik a莽谋s谋ndan, beklentimin alt谋nda kalsa da, asla be臒enmedi臒imi s枚yleyemem. 脟ok g眉ld眉臒眉m c眉mleler oldu. Bernard Shaw'谋n mizah谋n谋 sevdim.
艦枚yle bir 枚zelli臒i de var: 陌ngiliz kapitalizminin geli艧im s眉recini ana karakterin diyaloglar谋 arac谋l谋臒谋yla 枚zet bi莽iminde aktarm谋艧. Karakterinde esinlendi臒ini d眉艧眉nd眉臒眉m Engels'in kitaplar谋nda yazanlar谋n ayn谋s谋. Ger莽ekten bire bir ayn谋s谋. Bunu neden tercih etmi艧, hi莽bir fikrim yok. Romana zay谋fl谋k verdi臒ini d眉艧眉n眉yorum.
Son olarak; bu kitab谋 oyun olarak biliyordum elime alana kadar. De臒ilmi艧 demek ki...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
Title explained in appendix
Shaw鈥檚 last novel is very enjoyable, though I don鈥檛 doubt that the politics and speeches annoy quite a few readers. (Their opinion is not being polled鈥�)
Shaw鈥檚 last novel is very enjoyable, though I don鈥檛 doubt that the politics and speeches annoy quite a few readers. (Their opinion is not being polled鈥�)
January 1, 2016
Sidney Trefusis, son and heir to a cotton merchant, despises the world of class and privilege he was born into and takes up the socialist cause. Deserting his wife of six weeks, he poses as a laborer and-once rumbled in that guise-as a gentleman agitator for the socialist cause. But chief among his people to reform and convert are the society women in his circle who are simply expected to be unthinking adornments to their husbands who offer "Class" and "Good breeding" to atone for the vapid life they offer. If women can be made to wake up to their condition, surely the socialist cause will advance far quicker!
Shaw's 1884 novel is entertaining enough, but isn't really sure what it wants to be-the comedy of the early chapters soon switching to political preaching and melancholy. Trefusis is a ridiculous prig and the naivety of his politics is made more grating by the fact there is no challenge to them. That capitalism is brutal-earning the merchants such as Trefusis's father more than they could ever hope to spend, whilst the working class are denied the right to earn even enough to subsist-is undeniably the great social evil of its (and subsequent) days; but Shaw is naive in thinking flowery political solutions that sound great in theory, rarely(never?) translate into reality as politics (as any reader of Orwell will tell you) is about power over the people; NOT for the people.
Perhaps a better answer already existed-Cadbury who built quality homes for his workers and paid them well, or the John Lewis model where the workers (still to this day) take a share in the profits they help generate-and could have been used by social reformers to force all capitalists to follow a just model, whereas the political model just caused a superb reason for them to entrench their position.
All in all, 'An Unsocial Socialist' is a bit of a quaint curiosity now as far as the politics goes, but it still stands up as a beacon for the feminist cause and the role of women in society. It also gives a useful window to look into and see the winds for social change that were blowing in to Victorian Britain and the world in general.
Shaw's 1884 novel is entertaining enough, but isn't really sure what it wants to be-the comedy of the early chapters soon switching to political preaching and melancholy. Trefusis is a ridiculous prig and the naivety of his politics is made more grating by the fact there is no challenge to them. That capitalism is brutal-earning the merchants such as Trefusis's father more than they could ever hope to spend, whilst the working class are denied the right to earn even enough to subsist-is undeniably the great social evil of its (and subsequent) days; but Shaw is naive in thinking flowery political solutions that sound great in theory, rarely(never?) translate into reality as politics (as any reader of Orwell will tell you) is about power over the people; NOT for the people.
Perhaps a better answer already existed-Cadbury who built quality homes for his workers and paid them well, or the John Lewis model where the workers (still to this day) take a share in the profits they help generate-and could have been used by social reformers to force all capitalists to follow a just model, whereas the political model just caused a superb reason for them to entrench their position.
All in all, 'An Unsocial Socialist' is a bit of a quaint curiosity now as far as the politics goes, but it still stands up as a beacon for the feminist cause and the role of women in society. It also gives a useful window to look into and see the winds for social change that were blowing in to Victorian Britain and the world in general.
May 15, 2019
"An Unsocial Socialist" was what finally did it. It caused me to take a pause from reading George Bernard Shaw for a while. I have been reading his works for probably over a year now but not always with pleasure. Though he's often claimed as the second greatest English-language dramatist after Shakespeare, I would not rank him nearly so high. I have read nearly all his public domain works, but the last few will have to wait for now. I need a break!
Back to "An Unsocial Socialist." It is one of Shaw's handful of novels, mostly written before he turned to playwriting. It was interesting to see that he uses the same scene-setting technique here in a novel as he does in his plays. In both cases, he will typically describe the room in great (boring to me) detail before proceeding with the action. Thus it seems that his style of writing evolved naturally into a more congenial genre. His plays are novelistic, in other words.
The problem with this book is that it is all over the place. At first it seems that the main characters will be a set of girls at a boarding school. But no, the real protagonist (and unsocial socialist of the title) is a beggar they later meet, who is actually a rich person pretending to be poor. It's hard to care much about any of the characters, which by the way is the same problem I have with most of Shaw's plays. Unlike the plays, the time jumps way ahead through the book. Many of the girls in the opening chapters get married, etc.
Unless you're desperately curious to see what Shaw was like as a novelist, stay away from this one. As for me, I'll be glad to take a vacation in the land of Camelot for a while...
Back to "An Unsocial Socialist." It is one of Shaw's handful of novels, mostly written before he turned to playwriting. It was interesting to see that he uses the same scene-setting technique here in a novel as he does in his plays. In both cases, he will typically describe the room in great (boring to me) detail before proceeding with the action. Thus it seems that his style of writing evolved naturally into a more congenial genre. His plays are novelistic, in other words.
The problem with this book is that it is all over the place. At first it seems that the main characters will be a set of girls at a boarding school. But no, the real protagonist (and unsocial socialist of the title) is a beggar they later meet, who is actually a rich person pretending to be poor. It's hard to care much about any of the characters, which by the way is the same problem I have with most of Shaw's plays. Unlike the plays, the time jumps way ahead through the book. Many of the girls in the opening chapters get married, etc.
Unless you're desperately curious to see what Shaw was like as a novelist, stay away from this one. As for me, I'll be glad to take a vacation in the land of Camelot for a while...
August 1, 2015
It is very rarely that one comes upon a book in which its main character is so unsympathetic. It is often we encounter books with flawed main characters but somehow the author manipulates the reader into liking them and before we know it, we are rooting for the anti-hero or we are justifying their faults and bad decision making. This is not the case in An Unsocial socialist. I found it very difficult to follow this story because it had very little interest for me. Trefusis is not a likeable character, Henrietta or Agatha are not either. None of their actions are justifiable or endorsed. Everything in this story is a bit superficial and at times even random, and even though I forced myself into reading it, I can hardly say I enjoyed it and was very relieved when I reached the end.
September 9, 2012
Shaw's main character certainly is unsocial. He says very pertinent things about the unfairness of the social order. He says reasonable things about the unimportance of romance. But he seems over all to say that emotions are unnecessary, art is a fraud, reason is the only thing that counts and humanity is hopeless. Read the first 2/3 of the book to get some great quotes about socialism, then feel free to go about your way elsewhere.
June 20, 2013
Having only read Bernard Shaw's plays, I wasn't sure if this novel would be too heavy. Not at all - it pranced along in a jolly way which seems much at variance with the subject! One of those stories which I think will keep coming back to me and keep me thinking. The Socialist sentiments seem a little outdated now, but are in interesting glimpse into the late Victorian movement. A good introduction to much heavier works.
March 11, 2019
Oh my, did I suffer through this book. I can recognize some merit in its satire, it's funny more than a few times. But one third in it just goes radically downhill and the main character is absolutely insuperable, as I guess he's supposed to be, but c'mon. All the other characters are equally dull and annoying. It started of very promising, I believe, but there's just not much to love in it at all.
December 1, 2022
A mildly amusing book with an average story and characters. Provides good insight on the living conditions of the late 19th century and clarifies the revolutionary way of thinking in a few key aspects, even if some of it is somewhat outdates.
EDIT: a fair warning: there are quite a few misogynistic passages involved, which represent more Shaw's views on women than socialists'.
EDIT: a fair warning: there are quite a few misogynistic passages involved, which represent more Shaw's views on women than socialists'.
February 27, 2010
Schoolgirl hijinks in late 19th century England, linked via some love interest, to a bit of activism for socialism. The politics of a bygone era are now not much of a distraction from a good story, in the way they may have been at the time of its first publication.
October 28, 2017
Livro bem interessante na segunda parte. Um ensaio socialista no meio do s茅culo XIX em Inglaterra; uma pequena vis茫o dist贸pica e sat铆rica do autor. A personagem Trefusis consegue salvar o enredo e a alma do socialismo.
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