Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man, written in 1894, is one of his most important plays. The play exploits the situations of conventional theatre and contrasts real life with the romantic attitudes prevalent at the time. To this day, it remains as popular as it was at the time of its first performance.

Each title in the Bernard Shaw/AC Ward series has a general critical introduction to the works of Shaw, a specific introduction to the play itself, the author’s own preface, and also notes and glossaries. The series has now been enhanced and enriched with additional student-friendly features such as analyses of themes and characterisation, act-wise summaries and questions, and a select reading list. We hope that these value additions will help maintain the popularity that the series has long enjoyed with teachers and students alike.

Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1925), Bernard Shaw was one of the most well-known authors of his time. Renowned for his wit and controversial for his disregard for conventions, Shaw’s plays remain immensely popular to this day,and are studied in English literature courses around the world.

AC Ward’s notes to the plays of Shaw are widely recommended by universities in India for his incisive yet lucid criticism.

General Introduction to the Works of Bernard Shaw
Introduction to Arms and the Man
General Notes

Preface to Plays Pleasant (1898)
Arms and the Man

Critical Analysis

Summary of the Play
Questions
Topics for Discussion
A Select Bibliography