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Plays, Prose Writings, and Poems
Introduction by Terry Eagleton Oscar Wilde has been acknowledged as the wittiest writer in the English language. This collection proves that he was also one of the most versatile. Effortlessly achieved, each revealing a different aspect of his brilliance, all of the plays, prose writings, and poems gathered here support Wilde’s belief that entertainment provides the best kind of edification. The works gathered here include Wilde’s once-controversial and now classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray , the rioutously (sic) comic plays “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” and the famous poem he wrote after being released from prison, “The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” This expanded new edition now includes the complete version of Wilde’s moving letter from prison, De Profundis, and his teasing parable about Shakespeare, The Portrait of Mr. W. H. Other notable included writings are the semi-comic mystery story “Lord Arthur’s Savile’s Crime” and the essay The Soul of Man Under Socialism .
728 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 1991
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About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,529 books39k followersOscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 17, 2021
Read this in pieces while reading other books in between.
As expected, Oscar Wilde is a master of his art and it shows in every single one of his writings. Even if the story or poem wasn’t in my particular interest it was still written beautifully. Besides the lovely writing I throughly enjoyed looking at the art in this book.
As expected, Oscar Wilde is a master of his art and it shows in every single one of his writings. Even if the story or poem wasn’t in my particular interest it was still written beautifully. Besides the lovely writing I throughly enjoyed looking at the art in this book.
April 4, 2023
I read only the first story, The picture of Dorian Gray, and it totally lived up to my expectations. I liked the style of language (pretty hard to understand, so not for everyone) and the story itself really makes you think
December 22, 2018
Excelente recopilación de sus principales obras en una edición muy cuidada.
March 24, 2023
had to give up :( bit of a tough read in some parts probably just not the book for me, enjoyed the picture of dorian gray though
December 23, 2019
If I’ve learned anything from reading this complete works of Oscar Wilde, it’s that he is a writer of many words, but his talents are best served in small doses. Besides the Importance of Being Earnest, Salome, and a very few of his poems, I can’t say that I enjoyed reading the majority of the pieces in this collection, even though many of them are home to wonderfully pithy quotes that taken on an individual level are wonderful. But I’ve already reviewed the rest of his pieces individually, so I’ll keep this one largely confined to the final section - poetry - which isn’t easily quantified alone. There’s lots of poetry that I do enjoy out in the world, so I figured that with Wilde’s penchant for witty social commentary, the occasion fairytale, and excellent verbiage I would devour this last 150-odd pages of the collection. Not true though, as I found myself struggling through grandiose religious obsessions, travel reminiscences that did less to inspire than bore, and an awful overtone of vapid frivolity… In the entire collection there were only two poems which I actually enjoyed, and only “the Ballad of Reading Gaol” is particularly memorable. Wilde’s life obviously changed drastically when he was imprisoned with a sentence of hard labour after being found guilty of indecent (homosexual) acts, and the Ballad aptly describes the scenery and mood of the peniteniary as a man is sentenced to death for murdering his wife. The poem employs a readable and rhythmic cadence which may seem to romanticize the story somewhat, but harkens back to roadside ballads which explore stories of highway robbery, dirty politicians, and dangerous murderers while being easily recalled by travelling troubadors. Usually these ballads are preoccupied with the narrative points in the story, but Wilde moves beyond the medium to explore the character of the sentenced man and how his situation affects the other prisoners. The whole poem invokes a startling picture of prison life during the Victorian period, and gives readers a brief window into Wilde’s personal experiences with the justice system - giving us a more honest view (in my opinion) into his life story than the majority of his other pieces of literature.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2019
This is a large collection of Oscar Wilde's works, so I read it in bits over several years and my enjoyment of the pieces varied from "meh" to "loved it, hilarious." I liked his point in one of the opening non-fiction essays that it is cruel for society at large to expect a poor person to be cheerful; but that on the other hand, the poor often are cheerful naturally until they are informed that they are poor and suffering. It's a really interesting essay full of gems like "In the treasury-house of your soul, there are infinitely precious things, that may not be taken from you" as part of his explanation of Jesus' true message. (The essay is "The Soul of Man Under Socialism".)
My favorite parts of this book were some of the plays such as "The Importance of Being Earnest." The poetry didn't capture me in the same way. The aphorisms are amusing but mainly meant to shock people as preposterous. By reading a compendium like this you get a sense of the wide-ranging intellect of Oscar Wilde.
I received this as a gift from a high school friend with whom I led a science club for a couple years, and she had played Lady Bracknell in a high school production and signed my copy as such.
My favorite parts of this book were some of the plays such as "The Importance of Being Earnest." The poetry didn't capture me in the same way. The aphorisms are amusing but mainly meant to shock people as preposterous. By reading a compendium like this you get a sense of the wide-ranging intellect of Oscar Wilde.
I received this as a gift from a high school friend with whom I led a science club for a couple years, and she had played Lady Bracknell in a high school production and signed my copy as such.
December 2, 2019
A deep study on the work of Oscar Wilde and also gives us an insight into the dominating personality of Mr. Wilde. This work is an emotional rollercoaster and it is wittiest to the end. I felt enourmously sad reading 'de profundis' and laughed out loud with the antics of Ernest.
August 1, 2022
A classic collection of Wilde's drama, poems, historical fiction, and nonfiction writings. These include "De Profundis," "Lady Windemere's Fan," "The Importance of Being Earnest," and "The Picture of Dorian Gray." A Reader's Corner Must Read.
May 15, 2022
Fantastische verzameling, Oscar Wilde blijft zo'n heerlijk(e,) gevatte schrijver
October 23, 2012
Having already read Dickens and Shakespeare, it was with great expectation that I started working my way through this, the collection of the great Oscar Wildes work.
Unfortunately, the first book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which forms the centrepiece of this collection, does not get the collection off to a good start. The main character is completely unlikeable, which makes it hard to feel any sympathy, or indeed interest in his story. The plot itself lumbers along at a glacial pace, and the ending leaves the reader feeling cold. is rather disappointing. To Victorian Britain, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' may have been shocking, but it is also incredibly shallow, and the first half of the novel appears to be more a comment on society than the fiction you were expecting.
Whilst the next entry, the title story in the 'Happy Prince' collection, is an excellent little tale of morality, it also demonstrates Wilde's major failing. Perhaps seeing success in the first story, he then proceeds to use the same tack again and again. Unfortunately, the stories are clumsy, and rather pointless, with the 'The Nightingale and the Rose' being perhaps the worst example.
There is also a particular conversation that is copied, almost exactly word for word, at least four times throughout this collection. It raises a small smile the first time, but is downright annoying the third.
However, just as you feel that there is little to commend, 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' begins. This is an excellent tale, similar in style to 'Tales of the unexpected', and for the first time, i started to see what the hype was about. 'The Canterville Ghost' is just as good, if not better, and it is in stories such as these that the writing feels best suited. It is just a shame that this peak is so quickly over.
The plays are of similarly varied quality. 'The Importance of Being Earnest' is excellent, and 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan' are very good, being witty, relatively concise (which i cannot say for most of his work)and are a joy to read through. Unfortunately, other plays, 'Salome' in particular, are awful, and carry on the hard to understand obsession with living by the commandments. Such sentiments feel forced, clumsy, and in fact unnecessary, as my favourite works feature none of this.
The poetry, which is also riddled with strict Victorian values, also features numerous, and repetitive references to ancient Greece. For those with limited knowledge of ancient Greece, the bulk of the poems will pass them by, and even for those who do understand the references, the poetry is heavy going. In fact, i can recommend hardly any of it, because reading it feels like you are wading through treacle. It is only right at the end, the very last poem, that you can take any joy from the writing. 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' is witty, interesting, and more importantly, a good story.
Most of this collection is hard work and difficult to enjoy, and had this not been a 30p book from a charity shop, I would have felt robbed. However, the aforementioned 'Sir Arthur Savile's Crime', 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and the final poem are a real joy to read, and it for this reason that I give the collection as a whole 2 stars. Were I reviewing the best of his work separate, this rating would be much higher.
Unfortunately, the first book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which forms the centrepiece of this collection, does not get the collection off to a good start. The main character is completely unlikeable, which makes it hard to feel any sympathy, or indeed interest in his story. The plot itself lumbers along at a glacial pace, and the ending leaves the reader feeling cold. is rather disappointing. To Victorian Britain, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' may have been shocking, but it is also incredibly shallow, and the first half of the novel appears to be more a comment on society than the fiction you were expecting.
Whilst the next entry, the title story in the 'Happy Prince' collection, is an excellent little tale of morality, it also demonstrates Wilde's major failing. Perhaps seeing success in the first story, he then proceeds to use the same tack again and again. Unfortunately, the stories are clumsy, and rather pointless, with the 'The Nightingale and the Rose' being perhaps the worst example.
There is also a particular conversation that is copied, almost exactly word for word, at least four times throughout this collection. It raises a small smile the first time, but is downright annoying the third.
However, just as you feel that there is little to commend, 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime' begins. This is an excellent tale, similar in style to 'Tales of the unexpected', and for the first time, i started to see what the hype was about. 'The Canterville Ghost' is just as good, if not better, and it is in stories such as these that the writing feels best suited. It is just a shame that this peak is so quickly over.
The plays are of similarly varied quality. 'The Importance of Being Earnest' is excellent, and 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Lady Windermere's Fan' are very good, being witty, relatively concise (which i cannot say for most of his work)and are a joy to read through. Unfortunately, other plays, 'Salome' in particular, are awful, and carry on the hard to understand obsession with living by the commandments. Such sentiments feel forced, clumsy, and in fact unnecessary, as my favourite works feature none of this.
The poetry, which is also riddled with strict Victorian values, also features numerous, and repetitive references to ancient Greece. For those with limited knowledge of ancient Greece, the bulk of the poems will pass them by, and even for those who do understand the references, the poetry is heavy going. In fact, i can recommend hardly any of it, because reading it feels like you are wading through treacle. It is only right at the end, the very last poem, that you can take any joy from the writing. 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' is witty, interesting, and more importantly, a good story.
Most of this collection is hard work and difficult to enjoy, and had this not been a 30p book from a charity shop, I would have felt robbed. However, the aforementioned 'Sir Arthur Savile's Crime', 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and the final poem are a real joy to read, and it for this reason that I give the collection as a whole 2 stars. Were I reviewing the best of his work separate, this rating would be much higher.
March 4, 2016
A wonderful overview. Included are his perversely provocative essays "The Critic As Artist" (in which he proves "that it is more difficult to talk about a thing than to do it, and that to do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world...that all Art is immoral and all thought dangerous; that criticism is more creative than creation, and that the highest criticism is that which reveals in the work of Art what the artist had not put there; that it is exactly because a man cannot do a thing that he is the proper judge of it; and that the true critic is unfair, insincere and not rational."), "The Decay of Lying" and "The Soul of Man Under Socialism" (in which he maintains that under Socialism, everyone will be finally free to be artists and art critics). Also included are "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (even more seductive and poisonous than I remembered) and the amusing dark comedy "Lord Arthur Saville's Crime", as well as the glittering plays "Lady Windermere's Fan" and "The Importance of Being Earnest", and some of his pathos-filled post-prison poetry, including "Ballad of Reading Gaol".
March 5, 2016
A very good collection of Oscar Wildes best-known and not-so-well-known writing, including his novel, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', and his two famous comedies, 'Lady Windermeres Fan' and 'The Importance of Being Earnest'; also some essays, 'The Critic as Artist', 'The Soul of Man under Socialism' and poems, 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol', 'The Harlots House', 'The Sphinx', his prose poems, 'The Artist' and 'The House of Judgment'; and finally, 'A Few Maxims for the Instruction of the Over-Educated', such as: Education is an admirable thing. But it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught._ Oscar Wilde forever.
January 24, 2015
This book took me much longer to finish (compared with other books with similar page counts). The reason is simple: Most of the material included in this book was a chore to read (for me, anyway). However, as far as providing a varied sample of Oscar Wilde's output as an author, this book succeeds.
Liked: Importance of Being Earnest, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, and - up to a point - The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Liked: Importance of Being Earnest, Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, and - up to a point - The Picture of Dorian Gray.
November 1, 2025
Gorgeous. Particularly loved his essay on Socialism and mankind.
December 11, 2011
What's not to love about this beautiful collection of Wilde's work? Oscar Wilde of course is rather a genius, and his life tragically of his time. I haven't read all of this wonderful tome, but love to dip in and read, to read something new, or reread an old favourite like The Importance of Being Earnest. I most recently read, and was bowled over by, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Amazing.
August 21, 2024
I liked some of his plays and Dorian Gray's Portrait. Good description of England at the end of 19th Century. It is amazing that he has been persecuted for leading a homosexual lifestyle, with all his literary achievements.
December 12, 2007
I didn't read this whole book. I borrowed it from the library to read " The Importance of Being Ernest" which I did.
May 31, 2012
Damn that guy can turn a phrase
September 22, 2015
"The Importance of Being Earnest" is brilliant; "Dorian Grey" shite.
August 11, 2024
lovely writing every time
December 10, 2012
It's Oscar. Enough said. It's love.
April 8, 2017
A collection of Wilde’s writings in Everyman’s edition. Enjoyed two of his comedy dramas: “Lady Windermere’s Fan” and “The Importance of Being Earnest”. His novel “The Picture of Dorian Grey” seems now over-rated, when compared with when read many years ago. The essay “The Soul of Man under Socialism” reflects, in my opinion, his ignorance of the subject.
Some of the memorable quotes:
“ I like Wagner’s music better than anybody’s. It is so loud that one can talk the whole time without other people hearing what one says.” - The Picture of Dorian Gray.
“The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast” – “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime”
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
“ A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. A sentimentalist is a man who sees an absurd value in everything, and doesn’t know the market price of any single thing.” - “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
Some of the memorable quotes:
“ I like Wagner’s music better than anybody’s. It is so loud that one can talk the whole time without other people hearing what one says.” - The Picture of Dorian Gray.
“The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast” – “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime”
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
“ A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. A sentimentalist is a man who sees an absurd value in everything, and doesn’t know the market price of any single thing.” - “Lady Windermere’s Fan”
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews