Heartbreak House by George Bernard Shaw
A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes
Set against the backdrop of pre-World War I Britain, the play unfolds in the eccentric household of Captain Shotover, an old sea captain turned inventor. The narrative explores the lives and loves of the inhabitants of the so-called "Heartbreak House," who represent a microcosm of British society at the time. As they engage in witty banter and romantic entanglements, the characters remain blissfully unaware of the looming external threats that will soon engulf Europe. The play serves as a social critique, highlighting the idle, ineffective intellectualism and lack of moral direction among the British cultural elite, which Shaw saw as contributing to the country's decline and the catastrophic war on the horizon.
The 1785th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1919
- Nationality
- British
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 80-120
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 3 lists:
- 60th on From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays (The Guardian)
- Arts: The Critics' Century 1900-2000 (The Observer (Newspaper))
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)