Description: In this critical biography of the enigmatic man hailed as the second greatest playwright in the English language, Sally Peters explores Shaw's background and beliefs, interests and obsessions, relations with men and women, prose writings and dramatic art. Deciphering Shaw reveals a convoluted and extravagant inner life, studded with erotic secrets.

"Most interesting! People aren't usually serious about Shaw's sexuality. They mock it. They indulge in banter and persiflage. Or they deny he had any sexuality to be serious about. Ms. Peters may be the first person to take a good hard look. With, yes, most interesting results". -- Eric Bentley

"Superb: as thought, writing, research". -- Harold Bloom

"An intriguing study, part biography and part sexual case history". -- Peter Ackroyd, The Times (London)

"Inordinately rich in insight, this superb study provides the perfect antidote for those suffering from the illusion that nothing new and instructive can be said about Shaw". -- Choice

"Shaw wrote nearly a quarter-million letters, in addition to plays, essays, novels, newspaper criticism and broadsides, and Miss Peters has mined this rich quarry with invention and with delicious and tantalizing results". -- Donn B. Murphy, Washington Times

"However well a student of Shaw may think he knows the works, he cannot fail to look at them in a fresh light after reading Sally Peters". -- T.F. Evans, The Independent Shavian

"Almost always interesting and often rewarding.... Peters has thrown down a gauntlet which future writers on Shaw will have to pick up". -- John Gross, Sunday Telegraph

"No one who writes about him in the future will be able to do so without reference to (Peter's)findings and insights". -- Ulysses D'Aquila, Lambda Book Report

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