Oscar Wilde

[Winifred]

Star Anise wrote:

Hmm...I haven't read enough of his plays, but I love The Importance of Being Earnest of course. Can anyone recommend what I should read next of his plays?

I haven't read The Importance of Being Earnest, but don't tell anybody. I do agree with folks above that Lady Windemere's Fan is good - an intelligent, strong female character, as well as clever quips.

[Star_Anise]

Star Anise wrote:


I haven't read The Importance of Being Earnest, but don't tell anybody. I do agree with folks above that Lady Windemere's Fan is good - an intelligent, strong female character, as well as clever quips.

It'll be our secret When I have that sacred free time, I'll put Lady Windemere's Fan on my list.

[MadameCamille]

I'm new to the board, but Wilde is one of my favorites. If you have the chance to branch out from just his plays, I strongly suggest his short stories- The Nightingale and the Rose is my favorite.

[The Careful Collector]

I really enjoyed his short story "The Happy Prince".

[WeLoveLetters]

I've also read The Picture of Dorian Gray and liked this work...The main character reminds me of Faust Gette selling his soul to devil. The theme is the same, as if it's retelling, but in any case the novel is great!

[hunnypot294]

I recently sat an exam on A Woman Of No Importance and, possibly through the fact of having to study it, I found that it wasn't one of his best works. It wasn't until the third act that anyone has an idea of what is going on because of the huge selection of characters and apparant lack of plot, especially in the first act. I would have to agree that The Importnace of Being Earnest is probably his best work, although I will read his short stories to see what these are like.

[ugudka]

i recommend you to read the portrait of dorian gray;i personally think that it s the best piece of art that has been written by Mr.wilde.i read it everytime i feel depressed;my best character in it is the lord henry;he makes the reader know what life means even if he has some vicious ideas.when u finish it;u will feel that you are the most beautiful creature in the world and life is just a combination of colours.enjoy it

I find it interesting that the book made you feel this way, as I couldn't disagree more! I thought the book was a representation of the depths to which we are willing to sink in order to gain in material and superficial ways. It showed a really dark side of human nature. It also showed a terrible and untimely ending for those who are good, and have faith in goodness of humans (Basil Hallward). It showed that human's are capable of so much evil, that even the most cynical character (Henry Wotton) didn't realise what a monster he had created.

Most amazing thing about the book was definitely Wilde's descriptive ability. When he describes silk and velvet and all things luxurious (that Dorian acquires) you can almost feel them at the tips of your fingers. When he describes the revolting, dark, criminal London downtown, you shudder with fear and disgust. When he satirizes the shallowness and stupidity of Victorian London's polite society you laugh out loud. A great book, even if its not a masterpiece.

[margaine]

The book club recently read and discussed The Picture of Dorian Gray. Please add your thoughts, if you like: http://www.literatureforums.net/vb3/...ead.php?t=4659

I just finished reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. Thought I'd look around on here to see if there had been previous discussion, but I couldn't find much. This link doesn't seem to work . . . maybe 'cause it's from so long ago?

In brief, I thought the book was entertaining, and it would be interesting to teach I think. But there are things about it that make it seem overdone, or something. Just too much and too obvious. The theme is so repetitive. Especially in the second half of the novel.

Edit: I found the old book club discussion, by the way.

[Winifred]

It'll be our secret When I have that sacred free time, I'll put Lady Windemere's Fan on my list.

Well, I can now say proudly that I have both read the play and seen a production! Just finished listening to the BBC radio collection's Four Oscar Wilde Plays, which includes The Picture of Dorian Gray (dramatization), Lady Windemere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, and The Importance of Being Earnest. I have thoroughly enjoyed my heavy dose of clever ripostes, sentimental underpinnings, and wicked skewering of social follies. Still like Lady Windemere's Fan, although find it more sentimental than I remembered. A Woman of No Importance has similar themes, I preferred Lady W. Dorian Gray is clearly the darkest of the 4, as discussed above. The Importance of Being Earnest is fluffy but entertaining. I saw it performed by an able high school drama group - it was a great choice and well-done. The group, from southern Georgia, had worked half the summer on developing the crisp accents to pull it off convincingly, which had the extra benefit of rendering most of the well-enunciated dialogue understandable! Fun play, and a delight to watch - sets courtesy of the local antique shop, and whoever sewed the costumes was a whiz!

[kirsty_]

Lady Windermere's Fan, nothing too complicated but funny in the Wilde sort of way!Loved it!