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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 riotously 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.

'I am but too conscious of the fact that we are born in an age when only the dull are taken seriously,and I live in terror of not being misunderstood'declared Oscar Wilde(1854-1900).He has been misunderstood and dismissed as a mere coiner of flippancies.But wit need not always be trivial.Wilde uses wit to attack hypocrisy,cant,conventional attitudes and ideas.His writings demonstrate the importance of not being earnest,even though his aims are far from frivolous.This volume incorporates much of the best of Wilde's writing,including LADY WINDERMERE'S FANTHE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL.

Famed as a wit and bon viveur, Oscar Wilde lived up to his reputation. This selection of plays, poems and prose writings, introduced by Terry Eagleton, includes The Importance of Being Earnest, Lady Windermere's Fan, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Critic as an Artist and Apologia.