George Bernard Shaw

Irish, 1856–1950

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and political activist. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 and an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1938, making him the only person to receive both honors. His plays — including Pygmalion, Saint Joan, Man and Superman, and Major Barbara — combine sharp wit with serious social commentary on class, war, religion, and the English language. Shaw wrote over sixty plays and remains one of the most quoted authors in the English language.