The picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde, the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde, the canterville ghost by oscar w. While his most famous works, the picture of dorian gray and the importance of being earnest, live on, wilde is most frequently remembered for his wit. Oscar wilde is the author of the picture of dorian gray, the importance of being earnest, as well as some of the most quoted lines ever written. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 16 october 1854 30 november 1900 was an irish author, playwright and poet. So was dorian gray i wrote that in a few days because a friend of mine declared that i could not write a novel. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame. A defence of the picture of dorian gray edited by stuart mason. Oscar was two years younger than his brother, william willie wilde. Oscar wilde was an irish author and the most popular playwright in 1890s london. He studied the classics at dublin and oxford before moving to london. But in 1982, several organizations decided to do something about it. Oscar wilde was born at 21 westland row, dublin now home of the oscar wilde centre, trinity college, the second of three children born to an angloirish couple. Buy the wit of oscar wilde third printing by wilde, oscar isbn.
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. A big letters by oscar wilde to his lover and partner bosie or lord alfred douglas during his imprisonment at reading gaol for sodomy and indecency, the book was originally published five years after his death in 1900. This scene you feel is superfluous cost me terrible exhausting labour and heartrending nervewracking strain. Great books have been censored, bannedeven burnedfor hundreds of years. From his outsize celebrity in victorian london to his authorship of fiction, drama, and poetry that uniquely captured his era, its fair to say that wilde succeeded on both counts. Oscar wilde s decorated books is a welcome addition to any bookshelf. The fine john quinn copy, with his bookplate on the front pastedown. Have the courage to let your manuscript explore what you know to be true. After his release from prison in 1897, oscar wilde lived in france in straitened circumstances. Poems, novels, plays, and fairy tails by oscar wilde and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Personality profile of oscar wilde an irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet who became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s, and is remembered for his epigrams, his novel the picture of dorian gray, his plays, and his imprisonment and death, born on monday october 16th 1854. Wilde fought with bram stoker dracula over a woman, florence balcome. Includes works by gerard manley hopkins, emily dickinson and oscar wilde. Sep 23, 2019 great books have been censored, bannedeven burnedfor hundreds of years.
He was the son of sir william wilde, a distinguished surgeon, and the writer and poet jane francesca elgee who wrote under the name of speranza. Frankel listens to the drama taking place on the surface of wildes books. This is a bibliography of works by oscar wilde, a latevictorian irish writer. Works first edition signed oscar wilde bauman rare books. Oscar wilde ebooks epub and pdf downloads ebookmall. Wildes oeuvre includes criticism, poetry, childrens fiction, and a.
Convicted of indecency for his homosexual activities, wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor. Wilde was born of professional and literary parents. Oscar wilde left ireland at the age of 20 to study at oxford university in england, where he achieved a brilliant academic. I clearly remember bawling my eyes out after reading the nightingale and the rose for the first time at the age of eight.
Oscar wilde books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes. The play is full of rules, which range from rules on how to eat a muffin correctly, to rules about. The picture of dorian gray is the only published novel by oscar wilde, appearing as the lead story in lippincotts monthly magazine on 20 june 1890. Women and sex on stage, 18001930, a study of theatrical depictions of illicit sexuality, encompassing prostitution, adultery, bigamy and seduction. First edition, 1200 copies on english handmade paper. The everquotable oscar wilde once said, anybody can make history.
He wrote his only novel, the picture of dorian gray, in 1890 but his reputation arose from the success of his plays. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde was born in dublin, ireland, in 1854. It is also the first book to trace wilde s ongoing contribution to artistic book design. In his only novel, the picture of dorian gray published in lippincotts magazine, 1890, and in book form, revised and expanded by six chapters, 1891, wilde combined the supernatural elements of the gothic novel with the unspeakable sins of french decadent fiction. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Society and subversion in the plays of oscar wilde, and acts of desire. While his most famous works, the picture of dorian gray and. There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book, writes wilde, books are well written or badly written. In 1900 at the age of 46, he died of meningitis following an acute ear infection. It is a testimony of wildes wit and his brand of dark comedy.
The wilde series set of 4 full length novels kindle. The best quotes from oscar wilde on writing and creativity slideshare. Chiefly remembered today as a playwright, especially for the importance of being earnest, and as the author of the picture of dorian gray. It looks in particular at english upper class society and has been reproduced on stages in europe and america since his death. Under the previous regime, wilde had written to solicitors and the home office, or in limited quantities to friends. Oscar wilde books biography and list of works author of. Oscar wildes decorated books is a welcome addition to any bookshelf. The wilde book series by multiple authors includes books wilde thing, jingle bell rock, bad boys to go, and several more. Wilde s life is one of the saddest in english literature. The best books on oscar wilde five books expert recommendations. Oscar wilde 18541900 was born in dublin to unconventional parents.
Illustrated edition, with 15 splendid blackandwhite plates after drawings by donia nachshen, handsomely bound. It will help you choose your best oscar wilde book. The picture of dorian gray oscar wilde 732 downloads poems, with the ballad of reading gaol oscar wilde 639 downloads lord arthur saviles crime. Feb 5, 2016 to tell people what to read is a rule either useless or harmful, for the true appreciation of literature is a question of temperament not of teachingbut to tell people what not to rea. The best quotes from oscar wilde on writing and creativity. A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. An account of the three trials of oscar wilde umkc school of law. Having been so badly used by narrowminded critics, from running afoul of their standards of morality, one can appreciate especially appreciate this expression of wildes sentiments. No attempt is made to assess the justice of the laws which convicted them, but.
While nothing in the prison regulations allowed prisoners to write plays or novels or essays, inmates had permission to write letters. I dont know what the queensberry rules are, but the oscar wilde rule is to shoot on sight. His mother, lady jane francesca wilde 182096, was a poet and journalist. A gifted poet from an early age he won prizes for his verse at university wilde reveals his heartbreak and hope in these poems. He also wrote books about irish archaeology and peasant folklore. Wilde later revised this edition, making several alterations, and adding new chapters. For example, when he was told to take a scene out of the importance of being earnest by the actormanager george alexander, he replied. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 1854 1900 was an irish writer and poet.
I thought the best poem in the book was the actual ballad of reading gaol. It is a testimony of wilde s wit and his brand of dark comedy. In 1891 wilde published a house of pomegranates, a collection of fantasy tales, and in 1892 gained commercial and critical success with his play, lady windermeres fan he followed this comedy with a woman of no importance 1893, an ideal husband 1895, and his most famous play, the. Books by wilde, oscar sorted by popularity project gutenberg. The ballad of reading gaol is a poem by oscar wilde, written in exile either in. During his life, wilde wrote at least 25 substantial works, and a number of them are certainly mustreads. Frankel listens to the drama taking place on the surface of wilde s books. Jane wilde was a niece by marriage of the novelist, playwright and clergyman charles maturin 1780 1824, who may have. Its title means from the depths, and its contents recounts both his relationship. A few maxims for the instruction of the overeducated. Oscar wilde died at paris last friday, in his fortyfifth year. Oscar wilde the everquotable oscar wilde 18541900 was an irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet who delighted victorian england with his legendary wit.
He found critical and popular success with his scintillating plays, chiefly the importance of being earnest, while his only novel, the picture of dorian gray, scandalized readers. One of the most famous and most frequently quoted statements about the moral responsibility of artists can be found in oscar wilde s preface to his novel the picture of dorian gray. Top 10 books by oscar wilde best book recommendations. A popular perception persists of oscar wilde as an idle aesthete. The only thing that the artist cannot see is the obvious. Poet, playwright and novelist oscar wilde was born october 16, 1854 in dublin. His father, sir william wilde, was irelands leading ear and eye surgeon, who also published books on archaeology. Oscar was wilde about books with the ideal husband currently playing at dublins gate theatre, weve put together 10 literary quotes from its author mon, may 12, 2014, 15. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of londons most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. His abilities were sufficient to win him an honoured place as a man of. Oscar wilde wilde in 1889 born oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 18541016 16 october 1854 dublin, ireland died 30 november 1900 19001 aged 46 saintgermaindespres, paris, france buried pere lachaise cemetery occupation author, poet, playwright language english, french, greek nationality irish education portora royal school alma mater trinity college, dublin magdalen college. Wildes life is one of the saddest in english literature.
The wilde brothers, and their sister, mia, as well as joel wildes security business partner, ben. See the complete wilde series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Oscar wilde, the collected poems of oscar wilde while oscar wilde cultivated a flamboyant public persona, his poems provide an intimate look at his inner life. Each book could be read as a standalone book, but they do have characters from previous books in them also. Whether the sexual references were too explicit or the subject matter too taboo, certain rules have often silenced meaningful, diverse and truthful storytellers. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 16 october 1854 30 november 1900 was an irish poet. What the public calls an unhealthy novel is always a beautiful and healthy work of art. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 16 october 1854 30 november 1900 was an irish writer and poet.
Oscar wildes decorated books university of michigan press. Here are 15 of his best quotes for writers, readers and artists in honor of his 160th birthday. Oscar wilde books list of books by author oscar wilde. This broadview edition includes wildes full text along with an introduction, a chronology of wildes life, and several appendixes. A few maxims for the instruction of the overeducated by oscar wilde. Oscar wilde ebooks oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 16 october 1854 30 november 1900 was an irish writer and poet. Oscar wilde personality profile celebrities galore. Oscar wilde, author of importance of being earnest, was one of the greatest of irish writers and playwrights known around the world.
371 1224 237 1109 124 1331 846 607 1264 382 711 1005 1287 415 1440 595 1182 569 772 1199 183 500 1378 86 396 831 228 1028 805 193 558 1321 718 1380