Bernard Shaw is famous for his big, idea-packed plays, but How He Lied to Her Husband shows he could deliver a knockout punch in just a few pages. Written as a playful response to critics of his earlier play Candida, this one-act farce is a masterclass in turning expectations upside down.

The Story

The setup feels familiar. Henry, a passionate but broke young poet, has been having a secret, poetic romance with Aurora, a respectable married woman. Their affair lives in whispered words and the love poems he's written for her. The crisis hits when Aurora panics—she's lost the book of poems, and her husband, George, is bound to find it. She summons Henry to demand he lie and say the poems were written for someone else. When George bursts in, the confrontation begins... but it absolutely does not go as planned. George isn't furious about the affair. He's furious that Henry might deny being the genius behind the poems! Suddenly, the two men are arguing over artistic ownership and public credit, while Aurora is left wondering what her romantic drama was even about.

Why You Should Read It

What I love about this play is how it takes a classic 'scandal' plot and makes it about something much funnier and more human: vanity. Shaw suggests that sometimes, public ego is a stronger force than private jealousy. The characters are instantly recognizable—the dramatic artist, the flustered wife, the bullish husband—but Shaw lets them spiral in the most unexpected directions. The dialogue is crackling and smart, full of the kind of witty reversals that make you snort with laughter. It's a brilliant reminder that in matters of the heart (and art), people are often most concerned with how they look to the world.

Final Verdict

This is a perfect pick for anyone who thinks classic plays are stuffy. It's short, incredibly funny, and surprisingly modern in its psychology. It's ideal for a lunch break read, for book clubs that enjoy debating character motives, or for anyone who appreciates comedy that comes from sharp observation rather than cheap jokes. If you're new to Shaw, this is a fantastic, painless gateway into his clever world. A delightful, bite-sized satire that proves a comedy of manners can still pack a serious punch.