The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde (Wordsworth Library Collection) - Hardcover

Oscar Wilde

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1840225505 ISBN 13: 9781840225501

Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd, 2007

Synopsis

Wilde's works are suffused with his aestheticism, brilliant craftsmanship, legendary wit and, ultimately, his tragic muse. He wrote tender fairy stories for children employing all his grace, artistry and wit, of which the best-known is The Happy Prince. Counterpoints to this were his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, which shocked and outraged many readers of his day, and his stories for adults which exhibited his fascination with the relations between serene art and decadent life. Wilde took London by storm with his plays, particularly his masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest. His essays - in particular De Profundis- and his Ballad of Reading Gaol, both written after his release from prison, strikingly break the bounds of his usual expressive range. His other essays and poems are all included in this comprehensive collection of the works of one of the most exciting writers of the late nineteenth century.

About this title

About the Author:

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born on the 16th October 1854 and died on the 30th November 1900. He was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.

From AudioFile:

It would take a pretty sophisticated kid to fully understand the breadth of Wilde's satire in these short fables, which are a wonderful mix of funny and sad, odd and magical. There are encounters between all manner of creatures, including inanimate objects given voice and ego--fireworks converse with frogs, statues with swallows, giants with children, and much fun is poked at hypocrisy and inequality, pretense, and self-importance. Stephen Fry is a delight, narrating with obvious whole-hearted appreciation and respect for the source material. For having such a distinctive voice and distinguished delivery, he still manages to recede into the background, letting the craft of Wilde's language come to the fore. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1840225505
• ISBN 13: 9781840225501
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1104