Literary Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw - Page 2

sun surfer · 10-28-2012, 09:31 PM

Heh, perhaps I'm shallow, but after the long build-up I found the library reveal funny.

paola · 11-03-2012, 05:44 PM

finished it just in time for the November books - I agree with all the previous comments, it does feel rather dated. Having read it just after Middlemarch, I appreciated the lightness in tone, but in terms of social satire the comparison with Eliot (unfair, I know) is rather stark. I couldn't help thinking of Mr. Brooke when reading about hapless Petkoff.

fantasyfan · 11-17-2012, 05:31 PM

Generally, I enjoyed it. I like the way Shaw plays with serious issues such as identity, self-delusion, social pressures etc. I think he demonstrates that comedy can be a very serious business and reminds us that humour can have an underlying darkness.

Despite this thematic depth, I found that the finale was a bit lame at the very end. It seems that Shaw, having fired off all of his thematic cannons with considerable effect ended using a pea-shooter as a finisher. That last line just doesn't work for me. But there's lots of fun before it.

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10-28-2012, 09:31 PM	#16
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Heh, perhaps I'm shallow, but after the long build-up I found the library reveal funny.

11-03-2012, 05:44 PM	#17
paola Wizard Posts: 2,824 Karma: 5843878 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: UK Device: Pocketbook Pro 903, (beloved Pocketbook 360 RIP), Kobo Mini, Kobo Aura	finished it just in time for the November books - I agree with all the previous comments, it does feel rather dated. Having read it just after Middlemarch, I appreciated the lightness in tone, but in terms of social satire the comparison with Eliot (unfair, I know) is rather stark. I couldn't help thinking of Mr. Brooke when reading about hapless Petkoff.

11-17-2012, 05:31 PM	#18
fantasyfan Wizard Posts: 1,368 Karma: 26886344 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Device: Kindle Oasis 3, 4G, iPad Air 2, iPhone IE	Generally, I enjoyed it. I like the way Shaw plays with serious issues such as identity, self-delusion, social pressures etc. I think he demonstrates that comedy can be a very serious business and reminds us that humour can have an underlying darkness. Despite this thematic depth, I found that the finale was a bit lame at the very end. It seems that Shaw, having fired off all of his thematic cannons with considerable effect ended using a pea-shooter as a finisher. That last line just doesn't work for me. But there's lots of fun before it.

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