This volume contains forty fascinating essays written by Bernard Shaw. Taken in combination, his essays aim to provide a representative cross-section of English theatre history in the late-nineteenth century. The first chapter explores Shaw's skill as a critic, highlighting his extraordinary body of knowledge. The rest of the essays deal with such playwrights as Shakespeare, Ibsen, Wilde, and Pinero; and such players as Irving, Ellen Terry, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Forbes-Robertson, and Bernhardt. This text is highly recommended for those with a keen interest in theatre history, and it is not to be missed by the discerning collector of antiquarian literature of this ilk. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now, in an affordable, high-quality, modern edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned biography of the author.