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Arms and the Man: A Pleasant Play
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025280493
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 98
Weight: 0.33
Height: 0.20 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Arms and the Man is one of George Bernard Shaw's most enduring and witty comedies, serving as a biting satire on the romanticized notions of war and the conventions of love. Set during the 1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War, the play follows Raina Petkoff, a young Bulgarian woman whose idealistic views of heroism are challenged when she shelters a pragmatic Swiss mercenary, Captain Bluntschli. Known famously as the chocolate cream soldier for carrying sweets instead of cartridges, Bluntschli's practical nature provides a sharp contrast to the performative bravery of Raina's fiancé, Sergius Saranoff.
Through the clever dialogue and vibrant characters typical of Shaw's Plays Pleasant, the work deconstructs the facade of military glory and the rigid social hierarchies of the late 19th century. As the plot unfolds, Shaw explores complex themes of class, marriage, and the stark reality behind the veneer of aristocratic respectability. This masterpiece of modern drama remains a staple of the international theatrical repertoire, celebrated for its intellectual depth, trenchant social commentary, and timeless humor that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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