Three Plays for Puritans

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906. Excerpt: ... NOTE Bernard Shaw has never made the slightest attempt ta write popular work, and he long since ceased trying to adapt himself to what the Public seemed to desire. He first won distinct success as a musical critic. Some day his work in that line will be collected into a volume and found to be a sound and permanent contribution to musical literature. He toiled for years as a writer of dramatic notes on affairs theatrical in London; as he says in this volume, he nearly died of it. But the literature of the Drama is richer by a series of papers on actors and acting in the closing days of the nineteenth century that will peradventure long outlast most of the plays mentioned, or the memory of many of the players who "strutted and fretted" in them! These have been collected and are to be published immediately. Prior to this, and while trying to find himself, he incidentally wrote a few novels. Those in control of the literary output of twenty-five years ago did all they could, seemingly, to prove these novels quite impossible; a verdict cheerfully accepted by their author! Some of these stories refuse to die, and others after a sleep of twenty years arise as fresh as if just from the press. And the critics of that period? Their mouths are stopped with dust! He found his real vocation while writing of the Theatre. Not seeing on the stage what he deemed vital he undertakes to supply this lack. Again the critics rise up and denounce his presumption. By this time, however, he had acquired a sincere, and gradually increasing following; many of whom had faithfully waited years; they knew him as "A man that fortune's buffets and rewards Hath ta'en with equal thanks." When the mutable many hailed him as a discovery the faithful regretted, but felt certain he would surv...