You Never Can Tell
George Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell is a comedy of manners set in a seaside resort in England. The play follows the fortunes of the Clandon family, who have come to the resort for a holiday. The family consists of the father, Mr. Clandon, his wife Mrs. Clandon, their three children, Dolly, Gloria, and Philip, and their governess, Miss Fanny. The play begins with the Clandons arriving at the resort and meeting the other guests. Among them are the dentist, Mr. Valentine, and his daughter, Mrs. Wilkins. Mrs. Wilkins is a widow who is looking for a husband, and she sets her sights on Mr. Clandon. Meanwhile, Dolly and Gloria are both in love with the same man, the poet Walter. The play follows the Clandons as they navigate the social conventions of the resort and the romantic entanglements of their children. In the end, the Clandons are able to resolve their issues and find happiness.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1897 · Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama · 4 chapters · 34,656 words
First lines
In a dentist's operating room on a fine August morning in 1896. Not the usual tiny London den, but the best sitting room of a furnished lodging in a terrace on the sea front at a fashionable watering place. The operating chair, with a gas pump and cylinder beside it, is half way between the centre of the room and one of the corners. If you look into the room through the window which lights it, you will see the fireplace in the middle of the wall opposite you, with the door beside it to your left; an M.R.C.S. diploma in a frame hung on the chimneypiece; an easy chair covered in black leather on the hearth; a neat stool and bench, with vice, tools, and a mortar and pestle in the corner to the right.
What this Textopian page supports
You Never Can Tell is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Satire
- Length: 34,656 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 1,474 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering You Never Can Tell?
- How does this play by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Comedy — You Never Can Tell is a comedic play written by George Bernard Shaw, which follows the story of a family reunion and the comedic misunderstandings that arise.
- Romance — You Never Can Tell features a romantic subplot between two of the characters, Dolly and Philip, which adds to the comedic elements of the play.
- Drama — You Never Can Tell is a dramatic play, as it follows the story of a family reunion and the various conflicts that arise between the characters.
- Satire — You Never Can Tell is a satirical play, as it uses humor to criticize certain aspects of society, such as the class system and gender roles.
Tags
19th century literature · Children · Comedies · Drama · England · Fathers · Runaway husbands · Wives · bohun · chair · clandon · coming