Lady Windermere's Fan
by Oscar Wilde
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 683)
Reading an Oscar Wilde play is sort of like life being perfect. The structure of the work is faultless, the dialogue is uber-clever and fantastic. What's wrong with Wilde? Nothing. He's perfect. I can't imagine any writer who wrote so beautifully in his native language. There are some people who are born with 'it' and Wilde is one of them. Of course for someone so perfect he would have to get involved in some nasty social business via his decade. But when you look back at Wilde, one rea...more
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Read in September, 2007
Wilde's wit never bores me, which is why he is one of my favorite authors. Below are a few quotations I particularly liked from Lady Windermere's fan:
"... scandal is gossip made tedious by morality."
"In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."
"What is a cynic?...A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."
"That is the worst of women. They always want one to be...more
"... scandal is gossip made tedious by morality."
"In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."
"What is a cynic?...A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."
"That is the worst of women. They always want one to be...more
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Read in May, 2006
"I don't see why a man should think he is pleasing a woman enormously when he says to her a whole heap of things that he doesn't mean."
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"Our husbands would really forget our existence if we didn't nag at them from time to time, just to remind them that we have a perfectly legal right to do so."
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
"In this world there are only two...more
"I can resist everything except temptation."
"Our husbands would really forget our existence if we didn't nag at them from time to time, just to remind them that we have a perfectly legal right to do so."
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
"In this world there are only two...more
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I enjoyed reading this play, though the situations are so of their period that it can at times feel unrelatable to any modern person.
I have never seen a good performance of it. In fact, it has produced several of the worst stage productions I have ever seen. The play seems to lends itself to stilted acting and un-motivated action. Worse than that, is watching modern actresses who seem to confuse overt sexuality with flirtation, attempt to reproduce the witty and mannered seductions. An...more
I have never seen a good performance of it. In fact, it has produced several of the worst stage productions I have ever seen. The play seems to lends itself to stilted acting and un-motivated action. Worse than that, is watching modern actresses who seem to confuse overt sexuality with flirtation, attempt to reproduce the witty and mannered seductions. An...more
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Read in May, 2008
I read this play just for the heck of it, and felt it was very similar in themes and structure to another Wilde play, "An Ideal Husband." Both plays have a forthright society couple, a misunderstood "scandalous" woman, and a supporting cast of frothy Brit-twits. I was in a production of "An Ideal Husband" several years ago, and after reading "Lady Windermere's Fan," I think I find the latter more satisfying!
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I'm not a big fan of Wilde's but I liked this play. A nice quick read. I actually owned it for a few years. It's a good reminder of how important it can be to make sure your relations with the opposite sex look proper as well as are proper, especially if you are married. I found I had to focus a bit to get into time setting and society setting of the book.
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Read in June, 2002
This classic by the famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde deals with a blackmailing divorcée driven to self-sacrifice by maternal love. Published in 1892, this play is 100 years later still a must-read.
My first Oscar Wilde, and a quite good one. Had to read it for uni, but was glad it was on the reading list, since the story and particularly its morale was remarkable.
My first Oscar Wilde, and a quite good one. Had to read it for uni, but was glad it was on the reading list, since the story and particularly its morale was remarkable.
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I must say I was very impressed with this film!reates a wonderful atmosphere of 1930's Italy (Amalfi coast) with the jet set spending the summer gossiping and romancing with each other. The story is delightful with a happy ending and great for a romantic night out
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God bless Oscar Wilde. Has anyone contributed as much to the conversation of otherwise dull people?
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بادبزن خانم ویندرمیر را محمد سعیدی به فارسی برگردانده و بنگاه ترجمه و نشر کتاب چاپ و منتشر کرده است
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Read in July, 2006
Oh, poor Agatha and her "Yes, mamma"s - I would love to direct this play! More of Wilde's very amusing social mockery, but a very touching moral and sweet ending!
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Read in November, 1996
I love Oscar Wildes life, his Poems, his stories, I have read all of them, sorry He was killed in Kerimeh War in Turkey, I cant forget himxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Oscar Wilde fans and those interested in late Victorian mores
I liked this play, though it isn't my favorite of Wilde's work. The ending is rather predictable but nice and typical of nineteenth century mores.
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I saw this play performed in DC by the Shakespeare Theatre Company - I just love Oscar Wilde - witty, insightful, funny, and serious ...
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Read in April, 2004
recommended to Bridget by:
catherine don deigo
the version i have is the dover classics. this was great. this was my first oscar wilde and it was wonderful.
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half-way through, realized I saw a film adaptation with Helen Hunt and Scarlett Johansson...the play was better.
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Another delicious play by the talented Mr. Oscar Wilde...The man needs no review. His work speaks for itself.
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Read in August, 2006
The events take you through various ups and downs but in the end you're just where you thought you would be.
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Read in June, 2008
It wasn't until the very last act that I realized what was so familiar about this.....
I'd seen the movie.
I'd seen the movie.
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Read in July, 2008
Predictable and I just never find the supposed humour in his plays. Except here it had the Agatha thing.
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