The Perfect Wagnerite is George Bernard Shaw’s celebrated commentary on Wagner’s Ring cycle, offering a witty and provocative interpretation of the great tetralogy. Shaw reads the Ring as a political and social allegory, finding in its gods, giants, and dwarfs a critique of nineteenth-century capitalism.
Written with Shaw’s characteristic brilliance and irreverence, the book guides the listener through the dramas while arguing for their meaning as a parable of power and exploitation. Whether or not one accepts his thesis, Shaw’s commentary is among the most stimulating ever written on Wagner. Sharp, funny, and insightful, it remains a classic of musical criticism and a perennial favourite among Wagnerians.