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The Importance of Being Earnest

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( 403,281 ratings, 17,163 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 by Oscar Wilde is a satirical play set in Victorian England. The story follows two bachelors, Jack and Algernon, who create false identities to escape their social obligations and pursue romance. Through witty dialogue and comedic situations, the play explores themes of identity, societal expectations, and the triviality of the upper class.
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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 classic for its witty dialogue and sharp social commentary. It's a delightful satire of Victorian society, filled with humour and clever turns that offer both entertainment and insights into human nature. If you appreciate comedy of manners with a touch of absurdity, this play will be a treat.

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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

After all, who has the right to cast a stone against one who has suffered? Cannot repentance wipe out an act of folly? Why should there be one law for me and another for women?

Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, a 'trivial play for serious people', is a sparkling comedy of manners that epitomises wit and style. This brilliantly constructed satire, with its celebrated characters and much-quoted dialogue, turns accepted ideas inside out and is generally regarded as Wilde's masterpiece.

This Methuen Drama Student Edition of the play includes commentary and notes by Lucie Sutherland, Assistant Professor in Drama at the University of Nottingham, UK. Her insights investigate the play through a contemporary lens, incorporating contributions from queer scholarship and discussions of recent productions of the play.

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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?

Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is praised for being a near-perfect comedy with a reputation as one of the wittiest plays in English literature. It is celebrated for its enduring appeal and the fresh perspectives offered by new editions, which ensure its relevance in both English literature and drama studies.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781350141933

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 February 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Methuen Drama

Edition: 2nd edition

Contributors:

  • Edited by Lucie Sutherland

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 120g

Pages: 128

About the Author

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1856. His work includes The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest. He died in 1900.

Lucie Sutherland is Assistant Professor of Drama at the University of Nottingham, UK, and specialises in theatre and performance history and culture, specifically during the 19th and 20th centuries.

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