Man and Superman

In this four-act drama, George Bernard Shaw uses the character of John Tanner, an intellectual revolutionary, to argue that women are the primary pursuers in human courtship. The plot follows Ann Whitefield as she tracks Tanner from London to the mountains of Spain, determined to marry him despite his vocal protests. Central to the text is the "Don Juan in Hell" dream sequence, where characters debate the Life Force—a philosophical concept positing that humanity is driven by a biological impulse to evolve into a superior being. The work functions as both a romantic comedy and a manifesto on social evolution and eugenics.

Students of Victorian literature and philosophy read this edition to understand the transition from traditional romantic tropes to the satirical realism of the early twentieth century. Readers gain exposure to Shaw’s specific brand of socialism and his critique of the conventional marriage market. By following the dense dialogue and the unconventional behavior of the protagonists, the audience walks away with a clear perspective on how biological imperatives override personal intellect and social standing. This reprint offers access to a historical text that challenges standard assumptions about gender roles and cultural progress.

Deep, contemplative, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.

Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?