Synopsis
Collects some 300 glimpses of Shaw formal and informal interviews, recollections by intimates and notable acquaintances (excerpted from other works) each accompanied by a brief introduction and notes that identify biographical, and historical contexts. A resource for scholars and entertaining for casual readers. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Review
'Shaw: Interviews and Recollections may be the best one-volume life of Shaw we have.' - Stanley Weintraub, English Literature in Transition 'The primal impulse behind biography drives the collection: the desire not to forget the rare, winsome and astonishing...Gibbs extends the spectrum of witness immensely and, through subtle juxtaposition, effects keenest dialectic.' A.E. Wallace Maurer, Modern Drama 'As fascinating as it is informative.' - T.F. Evans, The Shavian 'One of the many virtues of this handsome book is the way in which it presents alternative views of the same people and events. It is rather like being told a story about an old friend then hearing it again from someone with a different axe to grind.' - Joan Smith, Guardian Weekly 'A.M. Gibbs has produced an excellent collection, Shaw: Interviews and Recollections, which constitutes a biography through primary materials.' - Trevor Griffiths, The Year's Work in English Studies Excerpts from Reviews of previous books by A.M. Gibbs The Art and Mind of Shaw (1983) 'It is by all odds the best short book on Shaw that also attempts to be comprehensive; it is at once concise and intense with the result that virtually every paragraph contains several memorable observations and judgements.' - F.P.W. McDowell, English Literature in Transition 'Packed with lively views, brilliant analysis and sound appreciation.' - R.B. Marriott, The Stage 'Helps to substantiate the case for Shaw as a writer of major importance.' - Timothy Kidd, Times Higher Educational Supplement 'His 'essays in criticism' are always intelligent and well argued.' - Emrys Jones, Times Literary Supplement Heatbreak House: Preludes of Apocalypse (1994) 'With this new book Gibbs adds to his reputation as a knowledgeable Shavian and a graceful writer. Heatbreak House: Preludes of Apocalypse makes more accessible a great but superficially strange and forbidding work of art. Gibb's book is the one to consult if the reader or playgoer wishes a full, readable, and challenging introduction, however: it is a definitive statement concerning the current status of Heatbreak House in the annals of literary and dramatic history.' - F.P.W. McDowell, English Literature in Transition '...a substantial and innovative discussion of Shaw's most elusive and ambiguous...play. It is a tribute to Professor Gibbs's skills as a scholar and critic that his exposition of the matrices from which the play came-biographical, historical, social and literary - and his analyses of the play's symbolism, dramaturgy, ideas and characters do much to reduce the mystery of Heatbreak House.' - John A. Bertolini, Shaw: The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies
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