Bernard Shaw, W. T. Stead, and the New Journalism, 1st ed. 2017 Whitechapel, Parnell, Titanic, and the Great War Bernard Shaw and His Contemporaries Series

This book explores Bernard Shaw?s journalism from the mid-1880s through the Great War?a period in which Shaw contributed some of the most powerful and socially relevant journalism the western world has experienced. In approaching Shaw?s journalism, the promoter and abuser of the New Journalism, W. T. Stead, is contrasted to Shaw, as Shaw countered the sensational news copy Stead and his disciples generated. To understand Shaw?s brand of New Journalism, his responses to the popular press? portrayals of high profile historical crises are examined, while other examples prompting Shaw?s journalism over the period are cited for depth: the 1888 Whitechapel murders, the 1890-91 O?Shea divorce scandal that fell Charles Stewart Parnell, peace crusades within militarism, the catastrophic Titanic sinking, and the Great War. Through Shaw?s journalism that undermined the popular press? shock efforts that prevented rational thought, Shaw endeavored to promote clear thinking through the immediacy of his critical journalism. Arguably, Shaw saved the free press.

1. Introduction.- 2. Stead and the Whitechapel Frenzy.- 3. Parnell, Disarmament, and the Morality Frenzy.- 4.Stead, Russia, and Titanic.- 5. War.- 6. Epilogue.- Notes.- Bibliography.- Index.

Nelson O’Ceallaigh Ritschel is Professor and Chair of Humanities at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, USA. He has published four previous scholarly books, including Shaw, Synge, Connolly, and Socialist Provocation (2011). He holds a Ph.D. from Brown University, USA.

Offers an original and insightful focused study of Shaw's journalism Provides a fascinating alternative angle on a key period in turbulent modernization of the Anglophone press Ranges across several key historical events - including the Whitechapel murders and the Titanic - which will be of interest to Shaw enthusiasts and general historians alike