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797 ratings, 4.54 average rating, 68 reviews
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published
September 1st 1989
by Harper Perennial
binding
Paperback, 1216 pages
isbn
006096393X
(isbn13: 9780060963934)
description
A unique one-volume anthology which includes all of Wilde's stories, plays, and poems. It also features a large portion of his essays and letters and ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1069)
So essential it's not even funny. Not a better writer in the English language. Also if one can have a hero in this world, I think Wilde can fit that bill. He maybe the first writer that I realize was a rebel of sorts. My first actual rock n' roll figure that I looked up to.
I started reading Wilde as a young teenager - due to the fact that he seemed to be the most glamourous figure in literature. Most of my high school friends were into the Beats or such toss as Jonathan Bach, but Wilde ...more
I started reading Wilde as a young teenager - due to the fact that he seemed to be the most glamourous figure in literature. Most of my high school friends were into the Beats or such toss as Jonathan Bach, but Wilde ...more
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Read in January, 1997
Wilde has such a gift with phrasing, I always think about how parallel he seems to me with Ryan Adams. So many accolades so early, then such a fever to tear him apart.
Here's a few quotes:
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civiliza...more
Here's a few quotes:
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
A man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her.
Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civiliza...more
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This writer is truely amazing.
I enjoyed "A Picture of Dorian Gray" as well as "The Importance of Being Earnest" imensly.
However, i found "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" to be my favorite piece of writing by Wilde.
The emotion behind it is astounding.
It was his final piece of writing before his death. The last thing he had the chance to say and he spoke of the horrors thrust upon him in prison. It is a magnificent poem.
i now find myself quoting Wilde a...more
I enjoyed "A Picture of Dorian Gray" as well as "The Importance of Being Earnest" imensly.
However, i found "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" to be my favorite piece of writing by Wilde.
The emotion behind it is astounding.
It was his final piece of writing before his death. The last thing he had the chance to say and he spoke of the horrors thrust upon him in prison. It is a magnificent poem.
i now find myself quoting Wilde a...more
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recommends it for:
By all means YES!
This is THE book. Oscar Wilde writes with so much heart. His stories just ooze heart. Of all of his writings, Dorian Grey is probably my least favorite, and it is a masterpiece! The Happy Prince will tear your heart out. It is the most beautiful story I have ever read in my entire life. It is one of the things in my life that touched my heart so deeply that all I could do was cry at it's raw, pure, beauty. Every story has that same pure loveliness. This is a book that you can read over a...more
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An absolute must for any library!..Oscar Wilde's sheer brilliance in the style of prose and his wit makes every novel he wrote a work of art in it's own right!
Wilde's musing on every thing from intellect to friendships are unparalleled; a few samples:
I have nothing to declare but my intelligence
********
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
*******
As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will al...more
Wilde's musing on every thing from intellect to friendships are unparalleled; a few samples:
I have nothing to declare but my intelligence
********
A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal.
*******
As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will al...more
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One of the great Irish authors, Wilde's lacerating wit is for the ages. While "The Importance of Being Earnest" isn't one of my favorite plays (partly because I had to read it on four separate occasions during school...I mean, really, can't we expand our horizons a bit?), his mastery is undeniable.
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I LURE Oscar Wilde. He is not just the most talented poet ever but also the most controversial person in history, at least for me. I love all his poems and can't wait to read "Portrait...". His quotes infuenced my life so much. For exmple one quote "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much. " Is not it just the smartest quote ever! At first i found it a little hard to read his poems but after i got use to them they were like air to me. Imortant, but not hard t
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Read in October, 2008
He has such quotable quotes! Though half the time you have to stop and think, "but is that true, do I believe that or does it just sound good". It is better to read his stuff separately with some time in between since there is a lot of repetition in his witting (I mean writeing, ha ha). I also think that in Oscar Wilde we see the birth of the clever, witty type of British humor that we see on PBS today. :-)
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
Wow - why had a not read Oscar Wilde before? He immediately jumped to the top of my list of favorite authors...and easily at that! I love how an author who wrote over 100 years ago can make me laugh out loud; I love that his jabs at Americans are still relevant. So far the Canterville Ghost is my favorite, and I am currently reading the Picture of Dorian Gray.
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Read in June, 1988
I adore Oscar Wilde especially his children's stories and The Picture of Dorian Gray for being brutal and beautiful at the same tme.
The Happy Prince is most beautiful altruist story.
The Nightingale and Rose is yet another story about heart and how critiques focus on form of music and not the intent of the action.
Oscar Wilde is a brillant writer.
The Happy Prince is most beautiful altruist story.
The Nightingale and Rose is yet another story about heart and how critiques focus on form of music and not the intent of the action.
Oscar Wilde is a brillant writer.
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march, 2003, ash's pick, THEME: Art, the pursuit of immortality
through the creative expression of beauty. Similarly the limitation and boundlessness of art. "The Artist" and "The Decay of Lying" paired with R.W. Emersons' "Art" and Two Articles by Art Critics: "Art of 9/11" by Arthur Danto & "This is not John Perreault" by John Perreault
through the creative expression of beauty. Similarly the limitation and boundlessness of art. "The Artist" and "The Decay of Lying" paired with R.W. Emersons' "Art" and Two Articles by Art Critics: "Art of 9/11" by Arthur Danto & "This is not John Perreault" by John Perreault
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Read in January, 2005
His letters are an astounding body of work in themselves. Really, everything that man put to paper is astounding, but his letters, especially the heartbreaking De Profundis ones from jail just kill me.
His short stories, his plays and his one novel are also epic.
However, I can't get into his poems too much.
His short stories, his plays and his one novel are also epic.
However, I can't get into his poems too much.
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Read in November, 2007
I liked reading all of his fairy tales. I loved them, but they were quite depressing...definately not bedtime stories. ;)
I also enjoyed reading the plays I hadn't read...I was most interested in reading Salome, since that one got banned from English theatre. I did not find it as scandalous as I had hoped. Hehe.
I also enjoyed reading the plays I hadn't read...I was most interested in reading Salome, since that one got banned from English theatre. I did not find it as scandalous as I had hoped. Hehe.
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Read in October, 1999
recommends it for:
Fops, dandies and smarties.
A friend gave me this exact collection for my birthday in 1999. I had already read most of its contents individually, but I've kept this collection for almost a decade because it is the best Wilde collection I've ever owned in one volume. And like someone else here said, you can't go wrong with Oscar Wilde...
NC
NC
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Read in March, 1990
Wilde should be read by everyone looking for a mixture of wit, humor and deep emotion. While some of his works are less accessible than others (I prefer his plays to his poetry) there's something in here for everyone.
I read his fables when I was about 7, and still recall them vividly.
I read his fables when I was about 7, and still recall them vividly.
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Oscar Wilde is my favorite auther, hence the fact that I chose THE COMPLETE WORKS OF OSCAR WILDE rather than just one separate book of his. I love his style and the amazing way he captures the attention. To put it simply, you KNOW when you are reading any of Oscar Wildes' work.
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Read in January, 2002
Oscar Wilde, not a name I hear people speak of much anymore. From his plays, to his books, to his poetry just amazing how versatile. Salome is my favorite of his work. I think people are thrown by Wilde approach and darker side. He makes for a great read though!!
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my mum was a big fan of the irish man.
i do remember everytime i went to bed,she read his tales for kids.all his works included in the book,personally,i take a liking for happy prince and the portrait of drian grey.unfortunately i left it behind somewhere.
i do remember everytime i went to bed,she read his tales for kids.all his works included in the book,personally,i take a liking for happy prince and the portrait of drian grey.unfortunately i left it behind somewhere.
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Read in September, 2005
recommends it for:
Aesthetes and Decadents
Great as they are, Wilde's plays are not the real treasures in this volume. Buy it instead for his collected essays and short stories, and for the slightly purple but still powerful "The Ballad of Reading Gaol."
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recommends it for:
everyone with a brain
The best gay author you will ever read. Period.
I love you, Oscar. If I were alive when you were alive, I would get you so drunk you would think I was a man, and then I would make out with you.
I love you, Oscar. If I were alive when you were alive, I would get you so drunk you would think I was a man, and then I would make out with you.
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"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction."
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