Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
 terrible printing November 12, 2009
Douglas L. Kim (New York, NY USA)
This edition of Arms and the Man has a terrible publisher who seemed like they cut and paste the text and slapped it on some paper. There are misspellings, awkward punctuations, and improper spacing of sections. They even are missing several of the last few pages of the book, which is utterly inexcusable. This version was hard to read. They say you can't judge a book by it's cover, but this I think this plain book cover is totally indicative of the effort that went into printing this version.
 The Play and The Book June 26, 2009
Eclectic Book Works (Out West)
Shaw is a genius... even his weakest plays are virtuoso exhibitions of his remarkable insight into human behavior and his remarkable ability to entertain with both drama and comedy. Arms and the Man is NOT his weakest play and is a must read for fans of drama.
One of the unique aspects of Shaw as a playwright is his inclusion of extensive commentary in his text. Detailed descriptions not only of what the characters wear but what they look like, down to the shape of a nose or the length of a chin. Set details such as the condition of the napkins on a table, the exact year a particular piece on the set was created, the sloppiness of the handwriting on a note on the desk... details the director may express in his interpretation, but can never deliver as a direct experience to the audience. Compare this with Shakespeare, who restricted himself strictly to the dialogue, leaving all other details to the imagination of the director or reader. It is always true that reading a drama is a completely different experience than seeing it staged; Shaw apparently embraced that difference and took the pains to create a richer back story for the reader.
One of the best endings ever April 3, 2009
Austin Somlo (Vincentown, NJ)
I first read Arms and the Man some years ago and found it a cool play. It still holds up today. However, it is not a strong play as I hoped. Arms and the Man is not what I describe as a gripping, edge-of-the-seat play, but rather it is a light comedy that invokes the feeling of idealistic setting while George Bernard Shaw mocks the people who live quite comfortably because of their socioeconomic status. What he was trying to do didn't work for me, and I didn't laugh that much anytime there was supposed to be a comedic moment. Honestly, I would have given Arms and the Man a rating of 3, but the ending of the play is undeniably one of the best, most classic endings I've read. And it was literally the reason why I choose to read the play again. Take that away, Arms and the Man is pretty average as plays come. The reading is quite simple but little bit confusing. The descriptions are of world-class and terse. It is easy to visualize the setting. I found the conversations easy to follow yet are filled with small gaps. In my book, I find it weird that the prime symbols, that is, the "apostrophe" symbols (such as dont for don't and havent for haven't) are omitted throughout the play. Meanwhile, Louis Kronenberger wrote an introduction for the play, and I thought it was boring and too analytical. Overall, I recommend Arms and the Man to be read by children and adults alike, and I think it's a very sentimental play with the one of the best endings you'll see.
 Arms and the Man November 17, 2008
Li Zhang (Hartford, CT)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw. Published by MobileReference (mobi).
This is witty, subtle, and surprising treat from the author of Pygmalion. Shaw fashions the subjects of false ideals, heroism, romanticism, and the fake glories of war into a well-constructed farce which sustains through the very last line.
 BATTLE FOR A CHOCOLATE CREAM SOLDIER February 14, 2008
Gale Finlayson
George Bernard Shaw's ARMS AND THE MAN (original production: 1894) continues to entertain audiences a century later. Considered one of his "Pleasant" plays by the author (one might say, Comedies) this amusing
parody on War and Love is set in distant Bulgaria in the 1880's. Throughout the piece we witness curious interpersonal relations between the daughter of the household and her handsome officer and a gentleman
fiancé. But the small cast engages in almost farcical surprise developments: there's a saucy maid with upper-class pretensions,
and a dignified fellow servant with her best interests at heart. Raina's parents are the prototype for modern sitcoms, with their behind-the back finagling and opposing motivations.
As if the war between Bulgarians and Serbians were insufficient to provide dramatic chaos, Shaw introduces a literary wild card (THE MAN)
into this volatile mix: one Swiss mercenary named Bluntschli. As a fugitive from a ferocious calvary charge, the desperate man makes a nocturnal entrance into the heroine's bedroom, fleeing immediate death by climbing up a drain pipe--begging pathetic sanctuary from the
impressionable young woman. Should she hide and protect him--an enemy of her country, or turn him in? What begins as a potentially serious situation gradually devolves into delightful comedy and ends in romantic farce.
Shaw's sardonic wit mercilessly spotlights the manly art of war, false appearances (bravery, courtliness, obedience, social pretension), plus marital attempts to hoodwink the gullible spouse. Women's hearts seem fickle, while only the Man remains true to his original feelings. Despite the subtle themes of the hopelessness of being In Service and the superficial reputations of soldiers and maidens, this play offers moments of humor interspersed with wonderful opportunities for Stage Business. Regardless of the verisimilitude of the denouement women readers should take up arms to defend their men--no matter their rank. In the end it is Women's arms which prove stronger than Men's.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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