Toby Jones reads a melodramatic letter George Bernard Shaw wrote to a woman who had rejected him

In August of 1913, George Bernard Shaw discovered that actress Stella Campbell, with whom he was infatuated and wished to grow old together, was to marry British Army Major George Cornwallis-West. Judging by this melodramatic letter, Shaw did not take the news well.
Toby Jones gave this hilarious reading of Shaw's letter at Letters Live at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2022.

[@IlGattonero13]

The howling, wounded ego hurling blistering insults, the genius theatrical pause over “funk” - what a brilliant reading. And beneath the humor, a menacing undertone. Can you imagine life with this man? Clearly she was right to leave him.

[@mortalclown3812]

Oh, hell yeah.

[@marthacastro9162]

Hell...yes 😂

[@fatima-jc9kw]

I am astounded by the linguistic tone of this youtube comment! Quite lovely phrasing, and expressive wording!

[@aimeeinkling]

He seems to be taking it well.

[@what_equals_42]

That was a massive, written red flag. In her position, I would feel any last vestige of uncertainty in my choice of spouse leave my body all at once. If she felt sorry for him before reading that letter, I have no doubt she was no longer burdened with that feeling afterwards. 🤣

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

By not marrying Shaw, the lady did not "dodge a bullet," she escaped a monstrous cannonball of ego. But, perversely, I wondered if he wrote such a scathing letter in some, perhaps misguided, attempt to stifle any regrets on her part...nah, he was just an angry bitter person, witty, but bitter.

[@Ryan-zv6xw]

Can't imagine why she didn't want to marry him.

[@MyNewEra2012]

Quite 😂😂

[@Lawsonomy1]

I was just thinking of her writing a response. "If this is what you think of me then why did you ask me out in the first place?"

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Yeah, seems like a nice guy…

[@Celeste-in-Oz]

Exactly what I was going to say 😂

[@lawrenceclemens8494]

OMG TOBY Jones is BRILLIANT !!!!

[@iamshotty]

This letter was hilariously and brilliantly delivered by Toby Jones. Such a brilliant actor. Thank you, I love this channel 🇦🇺❤

[@CatsandJP]

Let’s not forget Shaw was a polemicist and he wrote several plays specifically for “Miss Pat” and when she gave him the “flick” he refused to let her perform any roles again he had written for her….probably because the affair was unconsummated and that got him in a twist too…….Toby Jones what a treasure he is….loved the way he read the letter it was befitting he was the chosen one..❤️👏 also befitting…the badge Toby is wearing….Choose Love…brilliant.😂

[@peterrollinson-lorimer]

One of the better readings of the series, well done.

[@lomax343]

Hell hath no fury like the playwright scorned.

[@roecocoa]

P.s. Where the devil are my slippers?

[@Plethorality]

Exactly. I always hated that line. No i love you, no welcome back, no showing of grace or gratitude or affection. Toad.

[@MoonSpinners]

I agree, I think G.B.Shaw was a self centred misogynist

[@kimsherlock8969]

Passionate words showing a relationship rejected With the rejected sending a letter he sent his rage from the ego Voice .

[@maryfitzpatrick3252]

Priceless delivery ❤

[@kensears5099]

How Stella must have thanked her stars after reading that diatribe. She got out just in time.

[@SafetySpooon]

Yeah, even the greatest genius can be the biggest jerk.

[@yakunats]

Genius and jerk are often positively correlated

[@beek.4860]

This has me screaming with laughter. The whole thing reads like cut lines from Pygmalion!

[@Dumballa]

Toby knocked it out of the park.

[@San1984]

Awesome delivery 😂 👍

[@annieseaside]

What an perfect way for her assure herself she did Precisely the Right thing!

[@sirrykr1679]

That was one angry man who wrote this. Hopefully the woman got away fine.

[@ellenchavez2043]

All in all, she was an independent woman who refused to kow tow to the genius of a man.

[@ModelsExInferis]

Sounds like she had a lucky escape! I'd have sent the letter back to him with a small addendum: "Saucer of milk?". Love Toby's rendition though, especially that "funk... FUNK" part! 😂

[@SheilaCrosby]

My goodness, so much like a modern bloke rejected on Tinder. Or even one left hanging for ten minutes while she answered the door. Wonderful performance.

[@2learn4ever]

Great reading by TJ. I bet Stella was glad she'd walked!!

[@bondfall0072]

Part of me wants to believe they were close enough for her to know he was joking, but he did want to confess that he had feelings for her. The other part of me knows that this letter is excellent evidence as to why George was a lonely man.

[@EyalMoiseWork]

I can hear Henry Higgins.

[@mariabolt3881]

Absolutely Right!

[@nikbull1258]

Love this series

[@ladyethyme]

Yeeeah. Girl made the right choice lol

[@jamesbradley3498]

Wow. And I thought I ended things badly with some of my women.

[@kitskivich]

Oooof. Sounds like the lady in question dodged a bullet.

[@lauragranger9813]

some of these lines he put straight into his screanplay of My Fair Lady

[@noncompliant4316]

She dodged a bullet!

[@hexlemorte5201]

Daylight blinds you😂

[@tango22ah]

Capt. Mainwairing would be and is proud of Toby.

[@taimatsuko]

“Whatever, you ugly anyway”

[@MartinAhlman]

Original Incel! :-D I love this too much.

[@kevlonk]

I love the way he paused over "funk" to make sure he was reading the right word.

[@markofsaltburn]

I love Toby Jones.

[@bookbag-q4b]

Jeez...sour grapes much???!!!😂😂😂😂

[@missmerrily4830]

Shucks, it's all about HIM isn't it? She's probably still running!

[@davidlucey1311]

If I were a woman and a guy wrote me a letter like that, I would get a restraining order.

[@MrLenoir99]

Wonderful reading.

[@donnahardy3582]

Much better than a cursing rant fit. You don’t have to bleep anything out -even funk- and it was funny. ❤

[@melissataylor9880]

I love you,Toby Jones!❤❤❤

[@johnaron9819]

Toby Jones is a national treasure - just like his dear dad Freddie Jones.

[@williamclifford4441]

Thank you I hadn't made the connection

[@donaldbutcher1260]

Well done Mr Jones, Shaw would approve heartily. 😮

[@nancymcclymont2858]

Ain’t love grand?

[@carabiner7999]

Oh, the humanity!

[@pdan4]

This is the most poetic incel diatribe I've ever heard lol

[@shafshaikh8707]

First food then talk Always have french fries When ever in speech You will feel comfortable and a good speech

[@heathermortimer638]

I've punched men in the face for less... 😂

[@Celeste-in-Oz]

GBS… “you can’t dump me… I’m dumping you!”

[@javanesemystic]

....and that's why you're single 🤣🤣💀💀

[@lilbirdztube3698]

That lady dodged a bullet!

[@allenanderson4911]

So Wicked! ( reference intended). A bisexual man about town, has had his vanity wounded? Please, hand me my pearls that I may clutch them! Absolutely precious.

[@loraineriddell7157]

Aaaah, those were the days when real English was spoken ...... 🧐. Well presented.

[@hwizell7478]

Lies and do little Pygmalion author wrote “Knot a real part…” #haiku #myfairlady

[@bertlzansinger]

Big cinema..! 🤠

[@EdelweisSusie]

Anyone else spot Greg Davies in the audience?

[@kiddozoo]

Always Toby!

[@willimacdo]

someone should have a chat with the lighting designer.

[@1975normal]

Sounds to me like he’s used to getting his way

[@Old299dfk]

A 20th century simp... How refreshing

[@EnoVarma]

Shaw was a nice guy.

[@ashuggtube]

“I put in the Nice coins, why didn’t the sex come out?”

[@blackbird5634]

I saw him on Graham Norton's show and I thought then that someone simply hadn't told him his hair looked messed up before he came on stage. I thought it was rude of some producer to allow him to sit on the couch all f'd up. See how wrong I was!?😅

[@davidlucey1311]

I don’t know who is the bigger ham. George Barnard Shaw for writing it or the actor who performed it.

[@Aware_Bear]

So they went out on a date. The cheap bastard took her for a walk for miles. She got exhausted and said can we sit somewhere. He asked her out again, And he wrote a turn-of-the-century fuckboi letter to her when she said no.

[@Hbinky]

Sounds so much like the way some fragile-ego'd men who are rejected on dating apps respond these days.

[@1975normal]

Good ole George- he never appreciated a feminist 😂

[@Robinripley]

And thus ... The first incel was created

[@shafshaikh8707]

Toby Then also I m a jones True father Nick Jones This time He is 24 and above True mother where he resides now a days Saw mumma is always with you Taking care of your true sons and daughter

[@renastone9355]

GBS wasn't bitter.

[@LukeAps]

That was hilarious. Remember people. Though it is tempting to turn pain into hate - as hate lies that it can cover over your pain - it is even harder to live with and certainly immoral, as Jesus would inform you. Forgive, reflect, and move on.

[@james_9190]

Shaw was always an ahole about women; also spent his time encouraging people to bad mouth Captain Scott after he was dead because he weirdly thought this would improve his chances with his widow

[@karenBarr-e1c]

Though he is a great writer and poet , his manner is Cavalier at best and judgmental,

[@mikebirks2336]

Oh god. Ye olde incel. 😂

[@kathleenconway5774]

:)

[@TAD-LOW]

Sweet burn😅😂

[@surfacingcom]

Toby awesome, Shaw incel? And I swear that's Jesse Buckley in the audience