1898

« Plays: Pleasant and Unpleasant » is a collection of plays by George Bernard Shaw, typically published in two volumes, one containing the « unpleasant » plays and the other the « pleasant » ones. The « unpleasant » plays, such as « Widowers’ Houses, » « The Philanderer, » and « Mrs. Warren’s Profession,  » tackle controversial social issues like slum landlordism, sexual morality, and the economic realities of prostitution. The « pleasant » plays, like « Arms and the Man » and « You Never Can Tell, » are generally considered more comedic and romantic, though they still often engage with social themes.