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The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays

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( 51,680 ratings, 980 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays is a collection showcasing Oscar Wilde's trademark wit and social satire. In the titular play, mistaken identities and romantic misunderstandings unfold amidst Victorian society's foibles. The compilation also includes other Wilde plays, each exploring themes of humour, hypocrisy, and human folly with his characteristic charm and intelligence.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you appreciate witty dialogue, sharp social satire, and timeless humour. Oscar Wilde's plays offer a delightful exploration of Victorian society's quirks, with clever plots and vibrant characters that continue to captivate readers interested in theatre and cultural critique.

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Alongside Earnest, discover a biblical tragedy retold, Lady Windemere and her infamous fan and Wilde's take on an ideal husband, in this play.

A selection of Oscar Wilde's best and most important plays - sharp, relevant and brilliant to this day

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A selection of Oscar Wilde's best and most important plays - sharp, relevant and brilliant to this day.

Who would have thought a comedy of manners written more than a hundred years ago would still be so apt and so funny? Oscar Wilde was a genius of play-writing, and his deftness, wit and sharp eye for social satire keep audiences in thrall to this day.

Alongside The Importance of Being Earnest, discover a biblical tragedy retold, Lady Windemere and her infamous fan, and Wilde's take on an ideal husband in this selection of Wilde's most important plays.

The Importance of Being Earnest has a strong claim to being the most perfect comedy in the English language — Daily Telegraph

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde receives high praise for its wit and satirical edge. The work is often regarded as an exemplary comedy in English literature, celebrated for its clever social critique and charming romantic elements. Additionally, Wilde's plays, including An Ideal Husband, are noted for their sharp commentary on political and social hypocrisy, maintaining relevance even today.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784871529

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 July 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 268g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. He later lived in London and married Constance Lloyd there in 1884. Wilde was a leader of the Aesthetic Movement. His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was first published in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine in 1890. He published a revised and expanded edition in 1891 in response to negative reviews which criticised the book's immorality. Wilde became famous through of the immense success of his plays such as Lady Windemere's Fan (1892), An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). In 1985, after a public scandal involving Wilde's relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, he was sentenced to two years' hard labour in Reading Gaol for 'gross indecency'. His poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol was based on his experiences in prison and was published in 1898. After his release, Wilde never lived in England again and died in Paris on 30 November 1900. He is buried in P re Lachaise cemetery.

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