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Pygmalion

By George Bernard Shaw
Penguin Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.89 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is a witty play that explores themes of social class and personal transformation. It follows the story of Professor Henry Higgins, a phonetics expert, who makes a bet that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl, into a refined lady who can pass for a duchess. As Eliza learns to speak and behave like an upper-class woman, the dynamics between the characters lead to intriguing insights about identity and society.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy classic plays that explore social class and transformation with wit and humour, you might appreciate this story. It delves into themes of identity and societal expectations, all delivered through engaging dialogue and character dynamics, making it a timeless work in the realm of Arts & Culture.

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Shaw's dramatization of a Cockney flower girl's metamorphosis into a lady is both a fantasy and a platform for his views on social class, money and women's independence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Pygmalion both delighted and scandalised its first audiences in 1914. A brilliantly witty reworking of the classical tale of the sculptor Pygmalion, who falls in love with his perfect female statue, it is also a barbed attack on the British class system and a statement of Shaw's feminist views.

In Shaw's hands, the phoneticist Henry Higgins is the Pygmalion figure who believes he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, into a duchess at ease in polite society. The one thing he overlooks is that his 'creation' has a mind of her own.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is celebrated for its insightful exploration of social themes, with critics highlighting Shaw's ability to balance humour and intellectual depth. Thomas Mann credits Shaw with elevating social maturity, while Michael Holroyd admires his relentless challenge of conventional views. The Sunday Times laments the absence of Shaw's clarity and wit in contemporary discourse, and The Independent praises his genius, likening him to Tolstoy. The Daily Mail emphasises the enduring relevance and popularity of his plays, noting their engaging debates on diverse issues.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141439501

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 January 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Nicholas Grene

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 113g

Pages: 144

Collections

Arts & Culture Best Sellers at Book Hero George Bernard Shaw In Stock Arts & Culture Books In Stock Books Non-Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: Arts & Culture

About the Author

Dublin-born George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an active Socialist and a brilliant platform speaker. He was strongly critical of London theatre and closely associated with the intellectual revival of British drama. Dan H. Laurence has edited Shaw's COLLECTED LETTERS and COLLECTED PLAYS with their Prefaces. He was Literary Advisor to the Shaw Estate until his retirement in 1990. Nicholas Grene is Professor of English at the University of Dublin.

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