Although there are numberless biographies of G.B.S. and books dealing with to the man an various aspects of his career, this one is an excellent introduction by author who knows how to inform the young with just the right note of conversational informality. (Shakespeare in His Time, Dickens in His Time and Dr. Johnson in His World, p. 254-J-92.) Mr. Brown's successful technique is to combine the history of his subject's era with the facts of his subject's life and to show how each affected the other. This is particularly difficult in Shaw's case because the story starts in Victorian times and ends in the mid-20th century, a complex blend throughout of political and literary interaction. The author does not assume a prior exposure to the philosophies and economic theories of the '90's part and the Edwardian era, but makes them part of the story of Shaw's personal development. He is especially good at analyzing Shaw's proselytizing for Fabianism through his plays. The acidly articulate, dogmatic dramatist should find a special audience at this age level and this is a good book to begin on. (Kirkus Reviews)