Mansfield House Settlement. A Speech by George Bernard Shaw.

Laurence A201. 12mo: 15 pp. Stapled eight-leaf pamphlet. Very good, with a little rusting to staples, and in slightly grubby covers. Attractively printed. Note beneath title: 'This is a verbatim report with only trivial corrections of an impromptu speech at a luncheon given by Mr. Eric Macfadyen on October 30th, 1930, at the Savoy Hotel, on behalf of the building fund of the Settlement. It is thought that it would be interesting to have Mr. Shaw's words just as he delivered them without any attempt at rearrangement or revision.' Loosely inserted are a printed donation and bequeathal slips. Preceded by a note beginning 'The whole of Mansfield House is now being rebuilt, and the proposed new theatre in which Mr. Shaw is primarily interested is to be a part only of the Settlement's programme, which touches almost every social problem of contemporary London life.' A characteristic speech by Shaw, of interest for its minimal revision for publication. Begins 'Somewhere about the middle of the 19th century there were two things that happened of some importance. One was that I was born. That, curiously enough, has only just occurred to me - it's a real impromptu.' Features what Shaw describes as 'this ridiculous story - which is true, by the way', of 'the commencement of Cochran's wonderful career' as 'a great man of business in the theatre'. Excessively scarce: no copy at the British Library or on COPAC, and the only copy on WorldCat at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas.