Bernard Shaw and Totalitarianism

This book reveals the genuity of Shaw's totalitarianism by looking at his material - articles, speeches, letters, etc but is especially concerned with analyzing the utopian desire that runs through so many of Shaw's plays; looking at his political and eugenic utopianism as expressed in his drama and comparing this to his political totalitarianism.

“Students of Shaw everywhere will want to read this provocative study, which turns an unflinching eye on aspects of Shavian thought that profoundly unsettle the reflective mind Highly recommended [for] upper-division undergraduates and above.” (Choice)

“A major achievement, perhaps even a game changer for Shaw Studies . . . Bernard Shaw and Totalitarianism reads like a novel, replete with tight prose, a riveting plot, and high stakes.” (Christopher M. Wixson, Professor of English, Affiliate Professor of Theatre Arts, Eastern Illinois University, USA)

“This is an important book, which no one who teaches or writes about Shaw can afford to ignore.” (Julia A. Walker, Associate Professor of Drama and English, Washington University in St. Louis, USA)

“At last Bernard Shaw has been taken out of the 'oddball' category: an eclectic and somewhat baffling mixture of playwright, pundit, paradoxer, and clown. Matthew Yde's engaging and scholarly reappraisal relocates him convincingly within the maelstrom of European artistic and political modernism. As such, Shaw joins the ranks of the true avant-garde, intent on transforming the contemporary no-man's land into a site for the imaginings of large scale experiments in socially engineering a new civilisation (with all too often devastating consequences). 'Shavian' is about to change its meaning.” (Roger Griffin, author of Modernism and Fascism)

“In this compelling study of Shaw's plays and non-dramatic work Matthew Yde reveals Shaw's consistent and firmly held beliefs in the need for non-democratic, radical, and ruthless change to achieve his vision of a just and equitable society. Yde's unapologetic exposé of Shaw's views is at once a refreshing and provocative re-evaluation of a dominant aspect of Shaw's life and work.” (Leonard Conolly, Trent University, Canada)

“This is an often unsettling but nonetheless thoroughly absorbing book. Anyone who cares about Shaw will want to read it in order to discover how their opinion of the plays, and the public figure, is affected by Yde's penetrating analysis.” (Benjamin Poore, Studies in Theatre and Performance)

“The most significant single-author study of Shaw written in the past decade . . . a groundbreaking study that mobilizes rigorous archival research in service of high-stakes argumentation. Yde has laid the foundation for a new phase in Shaw scholarship.” (Lawrence Switzky, Assistant Professor of English and Drama, University of Toronto, Canada)

“An extremely knowledgeable and highly provocative analysis of George Bernard Shaw's political beliefs and social ideals . . . Yde's political approach produces ingenious and insightful interpretations.” (Christopher Innes, Distinguished Research Professor, York University)

Matthew Yde is Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of New Mexico, USA. He specialises in modern and contemporary theatre and drama, particularly in relation to politics, philosophy, and religion. He has published multiple articles in Modern Drama and The Journal of Bernard Shaw Studies as well as a book chapter on Krzysztof Kie?lowski's film The Decalogue. He is currently writing a monograph on contemporary American dramatist Stephen Adly Guirgis.