Collected Works of Oscar Wilde - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415105846 ISBN 13: 9780415105842

Publisher: Routledge, 1993

Synopsis

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) has perhaps attracted more critical and biographical attention in recent years than any other writer of the late-nineteenth century. By the turn of the 1890s, he was emerging as one of the most influential essayists of his time. In the four years leading up to the trials of 1895, he produced four theatrically innovative Society comedies that transformed the Victorian stage.
This 15 volume boxed set reprints the 1908 collected works together with the first trade edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Also included is Stuart Mason's comprehensive Bibliography of Oscar Wilde, which remains an indispensable tool of research.
In his introduction to these volumes, Joseph Bristow discusses the major developments in critical understandings of Wilde and his works. He draws particular attention to the significance of recent debates within Anglo-Irish studies, in lesbian and gay studies, and in theatre history. Locating the Collected Works in the main cultural, historical, and political contexts of late-Victorian England, Bristow examines how Wilde's writing frequently adopts parodic masks to subvert the social order of the day, not least where sexual desire and sexual identity are concerned. He considers how and why Wilde's reputation suffered such harsh blows during the months leading up to the author's imprisonment with two years hard labour and solitary confinement in Reading Gaol.

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415105846
• ISBN 13: 9780415105842
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 4918
• Editor: Ross Robert