Arms and the Man (Dover Thrift Editions) [Paperback]

George Bernard Shaw (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Thrift Editions | Publication Date: July 1, 1990

Witty masterpiece combines high comedy with social commentary in deflating romantic misconceptions of love and warfare. First produced in 1894, Arms and the Man is one of the most acted and studied of Shaw's plays. It is reprinted here from an authoritative early edition, complete with Shaw's preface to Volume II of Plays: Pleasant and Unpleasant.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Humor, rather than romance, abounds in this audio play performed in front of a live audience. From its Who's on First–meets–Shakespeare introduction to its surprising and irrelevant ending, Romance will leave listeners laughing uproariously at the running gags, outrageous language and amusing tangents. Fred Willard as a befuddled, overmedicated and pontificating judge hosts this kangaroo court of love affairs, foreign affairs and bigotry so blatant that it would be appalling if it wasn't so satirical. The defendant has discovered the key to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, but unless he can get court to adjourn, his plans will be wasted. The small but talented cast (including Noah Bean, Ed Begley Jr., Gordon Clapp, Steven Goldstein, Rod McLachlan and Rob Nagle) possess perfect timing and delivery. While the gross and vulgar language may scare some listeners away, its nonchalant execution dissolves its venom and infuses humor. Dirty and delicious, listeners will find this audiobook ending sooner than they will desire. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

'Published with the approval of the Shaw estate, these fresh and up-to-date editions are sure to be of interest to both old Shavians and newcomers to his work.' whatsonstage.com 'The competence and breadth of Wearing's research...make this edition an obvious choice for classroom teaching and pleasure reading. Moreover, it should be the one of record for any serious scholar.' --Shaw: The Annual Bernard Shaw Studies (September 2009) --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486264769
• ISBN-13: 978-0486264769
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #288,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An early social comedy by Shaw on the horrors of war, May 26, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arms and the Man (Shaw Library) (Paperback)

George Bernard Shaw takes the title for this play from the opening life of Virgil's epic poem the "Aeneid," which begins "Of arms and the man I sing." Virgil glorified war and the heroic feats of Aeneas on the battlefield. However, Shaw's purpose in this play is to attack the romantic notion of war by presenting a more realistic depiction of war, devoid of the idea that such death and destruction speaks to nobility. Still, "Arms and the Man" is not an anti-war drama, but rather a satirical assault on those who would glorify the horrors or war.

Shaw develops an ironic contrast between two central characters. The play begins with accounts of the glorious exploits of Major Sergius Saranoff, a handsome young Bulgarian officer, in a daring cavalry raid, which turned the war in favor of the Bulgarians over the Serbs. In contrast, Captain Bluntschil, a professional soldier from Switzerland, acts like a coward. He climbs up to a balcony to escape capture, he threatens a woman with a gun, and he carries chocolates rather than cartridges because he claims the sweets are more useful on the battlefield.

In the eyes of Raina Petkoff, the young romantic idealist who has bought into the stories of battlefield heroism, Saranoff is her ideal hero. However, as the play proceeds, we learn more about this raid and that despite its success, it was a suicidal gesture that should have failed. Eventually Saranoff is going to end up dead if he continues to engage in such ridiculous heroics. Meanwhile, we realize that Bluntshcil has no misconceptions about the stupidity of war and that his actions have kept him alive.

"Arms and the Man" is an early play by Shaw, first performed in 1894, the same year he wrote "Mrs. Warren's Profession." The ending is rather tradition for comedies of the time, with all the confusion between the lovers finally getting cleared up and everybody paired up to live happily ever after. The choice of a young woman as the main character, who ultimately rejects her romantic ideals to live in the real world, is perhaps significant because serving in the army and going to war is not going to happen. Consequently, her views are not going to be colored by questions of courage in terms of going to war herself. I also find it interesting that this play understands the horrors of war given that it was the horrors of World War I that generally killed the romantic notion of war in Britain.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arms is social satire with a Romantic twist; great fun., July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Arms and the Man (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

This play particularly wins you over if you see it performed live with a particularly acerbic, not too tall Bluntschli--it is a romantic farce that critiques Romanticism (but ends up in love with it, although in a roundabout way) and embraces early 20th c Realism and Capitalism, all through some fairly simple but very captivating characters. Good social sendup, a Shaw for people who still have soft hearts and want a quick read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like the chocolate cream soldier - tasty and satisfying, February 7, 2001

By 

Bonnie MacBird (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arms and the Man (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

A starving, exhausted soldier running for his life bursts into a young woman's room, finds outrage, criticism, solace, chocolate creams, and unexpected love -and that's just the opening scene. This clever, witty, subtle, and surprising treat from the author of Pygmalion still holds up well more than 100 years after its writing. Shaw fashions the subjects of false ideals, heroism, romanticism, and the fake glories of war into a well-constructed farce which sustains through the very last line. Can't wait to see a new production of the play, and a great read meanwhile....