Nobel Prize in Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 23 (1925) Winner
George Bernard Shaw
ジョージ・バーナード・ショー
Joji Banādo Shō
Pen Names:
Bernard Shaw（Preferred name / pen name used by himself）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1856-07-26 （Portobello, Dublin, Ireland）
- Died
- 1950-11-02 （Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire, England） age 94
- Nationality
- United Kingdom, Ireland
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Non-religious (mystical tendencies)
Career
- Occupations
- Playwright, Critic, Political activist, Essayist
- Active Years
- 1876-1950
- Affiliations
- Fabian Society, London School of Economics (supporter/founding contributor), New Statesman (founding director/shareholder)
- Memberships
- Fabian Society
- Influenced By
- Henrik Ibsen, John Ruskin, William Morris, Karl Marx
- Influenced
- Noël Coward, Tom Stoppard, Eugene O'Neill, Numerous English-language playwrights
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Nobel Prize in Literature | — | 文学 | Nobel Prize Committee | 受賞 |
| 1939 | Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | Pygmalion (film) | 脚色 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | 受賞 |
Nobel Prize in Literature
1925
Category:
文学
Organization:
Nobel Prize Committee
Result:
受賞
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
1939
Work:
Pygmalion (film)
Category:
脚色
Organization:
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Man and Superman
1902 Drama (discussion play) 160 pagesA four-act play blending ideas of creative evolution with social and moral debate; combines Don Juan elements with philosophical discussion.
creative evolutionsocial dutycharacter and desire
Pygmalion
1912 Drama (social play / satire) 120 pagesA study of language and class: a flower girl is taught to speak properly and adopt upper-class manners, exploring social mobility and identity.
language and classsocial mobilityidentity
Adaptations
- [Film] Pygmalion / Gabriel Pascal (1938)
Translations
- Translated into multiple languages
Saint Joan
1923 Drama (historical) 160 pagesA historical play about Joan of Arc, examining idealism, faith and the intersection of politics.
faith and idealismindividual and statereassessment of heroism
Arms and the Man
1894 Drama (satirical comedy) 80 pagesA satirical comedy on love, militarism and class; contrasts romantic ideals with pragmatic reality.
realism vs idealismvanity of warclass and romance
Major Barbara
1905 Drama (moral play) 120 pagesExamines ethical conflicts between an armaments manufacturer and the Salvation Army; questions wealth and morality.
wealth and moralityrelief of the poorreligion and capital
Adaptations
- [Film] Major Barbara / Gabriel Pascal (1941)
Bibliography
- Pygmalion (1912)
- Man and Superman (1902)
- Saint Joan (1923)
- Major Barbara (1905)
Adaptations
- Pygmalion → film (1938) and musical adaptation 'My Fair Lady' (1956)
- Major Barbara → film (1941)
Translations of Works
- Pygmalion (translated into multiple languages)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- satiricaldidacticdiscussion/problem play
- Recurring Motifs
- social critiquelanguage and classNew Woman tropelogical argument accompanied by humour
Health
-
Smallpox1881Left facial scarring; he grew a beard later to hide the scar.
-
Pernicious anaemia1930年代後半Treated with concentrated animal liver injections; treatment conflicted with his vegetarian convictions.
Legacy
Shaw is regarded as one of the leading English-language playwrights of the 20th century. His political polemics and satirical dramas strongly influenced modern theatre and coined the term 'Shavian'. Some of his later political views remain controversial, but his major plays continue to be staged.
Museums
- Shaw's Corner Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire, England Opened in 1951
Academic Societies
- The Shaw Society (UK)
- International Shaw Society
Archives
- London School of Economics (Shaw photographs and papers)
- Harry Ransom Center (University of Texas at Austin) collections
In Popular Culture
- Pygmalion → film (1938) and musical 'My Fair Lady' (1956)
- Continued performance tradition and festivals such as the Shaw Festival (Canada)
Quotes
-
Youth is wasted on the young.
Source: Source: Commonly attributed to Shaw (original citation varies) -
My readers and my audiences provide me with more than sufficient money for my needs.
Source: Comment related to his Nobel Prize (upon accepting the prize but rejecting the monetary award) (1925)
Trivia
- One of the few people awarded both a Nobel Prize (Literature) and an Academy Award (Oscar).
- Preferred to be known as 'Bernard Shaw' rather than 'George Bernard Shaw'.
- Left funds in his will for English spelling reform, leading to the publication in the Shavian alphabet.