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Read by Thomas A. Copeland

In this late work, Shaw examines many contemporary issues under the broad rubric of evolution and then illustrates his opinions in five brief plays set in widely separated historical periods, beginning in the Garden of Eden and ending in the year 31,920 A.D. The unifying principle in this historical survey is the notion that the survival of humankind depends on increasing our lifespan to at least 300 years, a period permitting us to grow to maturity. The ultimate question that the mature cast of characters grapple with is what is to be the next significant step in evolution. Mere longevity simply enables them to ask this question. We see in the final play the beginning of the answer: first, escape from the social experiment, which began with Cain, a long and toilsome journey towards anarchy, and then gradual liberation from the grossness of physical imperfection and at last from bondage to flesh itself into immortality. What might lie beyond that, the author leaves to the imagination. - Summary by Thomas A. Copeland (0 hr 34 min)

Chapters

Section 1 33:08 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 2 32:25 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 3 35:03 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 4 30:46 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 5 34:41 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 6 31:06 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 7 40:03 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 8 36:39 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 9 55:33 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 10 56:34 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 11 48:31 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 12 48:00 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 13 41:40 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 14 39:14 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 15 43:02 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 16 19:04 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 17 48:03 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 18 41:29 Read by Thomas A. Copeland
Section 19 39:36 Read by Thomas A. Copeland