During his own era he was one of londons most popular playwrights, and today his most famous works remain household names. The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame. He was tried and imprisoned for his homosexual relationship with the son of an aristocrat. Oscar wildes most famous novel the picture of dorian gray dell laurel edition, 6914 oscar wilde on.
During his life, wilde wrote at least 25 substantial works, and a number of them are certainly mustreads. For john ehret dickirson sic, in admiration of his incomparable art and his incomparable personality, from oscar wilde. Wilde was born of professional and literary parents. He found critical and popular success with his scintillating plays, chiefly the importance of being earnest, while his only novel, the picture of dorian gray, scandalized readers. Oscar wilde books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography barnes.
After his release from prison in 1897, oscar wilde lived in france in straitened circumstances. Jul 19, 2017 looking for the best oscar wilde quotes. Oscar wilde books list of books by author oscar wilde. Wilde often stayed at dickinsons hertfordshire country home, abbots hil. Wilde s first published story, the canterville ghost is a typical horror story with creaking. Jul 31, 2018 wilde wore many masks during his too short life. Short, sweet, beautifully written and full of punchlines that stick into the mind, oscar wilde s greatest work is a living example of quality, rather than quantity. Top 5 best oscar wilde books you should know oscar wilde was an irish writer that lived and worked in london and paris in the 19th century. Oscar wilde was a proponent of the aesthetic movement in art and literature, which suggested these forms should focus on beauty rather than trying to convey a moral or political message.
Surprising influences on oscar wildes greatest works the. Are you looking for the best selling oscar wilde books. Best oscar wilde books list of popular oscar wilde books. The everquotable oscar wilde 18541900 was an irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet who delighted victorian england with his legendary wit. Society and subversion in the plays of oscar wilde by sos eltis. Oscar wilde, author of importance of being earnest, was one of the greatest of irish writers and playwrights known around the world. Weve compiled an amazing list of the top 100 famous wilde quotes and sayings on life, love, poetry, people and more. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde is born in dublin to sir william and francesca elgee wilde. In oscar wildes famous novel, dorian gray is tempted by henry wotton to sell his soul in order to hold on to beauty and youth. How oscar wilde become the first celebrity famous for being. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. Oscar wilde 18541900 was bestknown for being oscar wilde. Oscar was especially influenced by his mother, a brilliantly witty raconteur, and, as a child, he was frequently invited to.
Oscar wilde biography and list of works oscar wilde books. He was also known for his wit, his flamboyance, and his. Chiefly remembered today as a playwright, especially for the importance of being earnest, and as the author of the picture of dorian gray. With commercial success and critical acclaim, theres no doubt that oscar wilde is one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years. He also authored a number of books on medicine, archeology and folklore. In my view, this is the best onevolume biography of wilde now available to readers. Oscar fingall oflahertie wills wilde was born in dublin in 1854. How oscar wilde become the first celebrity famous for. Oscar wildes literary reputation rests largely on his novel the picture of dorian gray 1891 and on his masterful comedies of manners lady windermeres fan 1892 and the importance of being earnest 1895. Oct 10, 2019 author oscar wilde was known for his acclaimed works including the picture of dorian gray and the importance of being earnest, as well as his brilliant wit, flamboyant style and infamous. Oscar wilde, author of importance of being earnest. This scene you feel is superfluous cost me terrible exhausting labour and heartrending nervewracking strain. Oscar wildes most famous novel the picture of dorian gray dell laurel edition, 6914. New book reveals how oscar drove women wilde daily mail.
Oscar wilde biography oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde october 16, 1854 november 30, 1900 was an angloirish playwright, novelist, poet, and short story writer. During his own era he was one of london s most popular playwrights, and today his most famous works remain household names. Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time. Best oscar wilde plays the must read plays by oscar wilde. A popular perception persists of oscar wilde as an idle aesthete. You can find the list of the best oscar wilde books here. Two of wilde s books, inscribed to dickinson in 1888, were sold at sothebys in 1910. As is often remarked, he was one of the first modern celebrities, courting attention for his witty conversation, his flamboyant dress, and later his scandalous sex life. A critical study by arthur ransome, a british author and journalist. A popular playwright as well as a great novelist, wilde is known for his distinct and biting wit. He was an aphorist, a progressive journalist, a provocative essayist and a tragedian. A book mapping irish literary legend oscar wilde s tour through america claims this. Literary accomplishments apart, wilde was famous for his wit and flamboyance with men.
Oscar wilde biography the irish writer and poet, oscar wilde is best known for writing the picture of dorian gray 1891, a dark and sardonic novel which was the topic of much. Oscar wilde s only novel takes a witty, philosophical, and harrowing look at our obsession with youth and the price we pay for it. Apr 12, 20 oscar wilde was an irish writer and poet. His most famous play and the uncontested number one on this list, the important of being earnest is a fantastic farcical comedy that simply must be read by any actor, playwright or decent human being. List of books and articles about oscar wilde online. Remembered as much for his imprisonment for homosexuality and early death, as for his literary talent, wilde cuts a fascinating figure, and. Oscar wilde was a flamboyant and vivacious playwright of the 19th century. Oscar wilde oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde, 18541900, irish author and wit, b. Oscar wilde was born in 1854 in dublin, ireland to prominent intellectuals william wilde and lady jane francesca wilde. Selected by dr oliver tearle oscar wilde 18541900 was bestknown for being oscar wilde. Here are his 40 most popular according to goodreads sourced quotations, grouped.
Dorian succumbs and murders the portrait painter basil haliward, who stands between him and his goal. Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes. Previously published as the picture of dorian gray, this edition of the picture of dorian gray amazonclassics edition includes editorial revisions. How oscar wilde become the first celebrity famous for being famous. Books by oscar wilde author of the picture of dorian gray. The everquotable oscar wilde once said, anybody can make history.
Oscar wilde was born on the 16 th of october 1854 in dublin, ireland. He is most famous for his sophisticated, brilliantly witty plays, which were the first since the comedies of sheridan and goldsmith to have both dramatic and literary merit. Top 10 books by oscar wilde best book recommendations. Knighted in 1864, oscars father was a distinguished ophthalmologic surgeon and philanthropist who wrote many books. The best oscar wilde book stands out for being the sole novel written by him and for being ahead of its time in its bold narrative which inevitably faced the risk of being tagged as amoral for the public. The rest were plays and collections of poetry, short stories, and letters. He would go on to become one of the worlds most prolific writers, dabbling in everything from plays and. The picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde, the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde, the canterville ghost by oscar w. The best oscar wilde quotes in honor of his 163rd birthday, we take a look back at 20 of irish literary genuis most memorable quotes. In oscar wilde s famous novel, dorian gray is tempted by henry wotton to sell his soul in order to hold on to beauty and youth. Oscar wilde books biography and list of works author of. Oscar wilde cultivated an image of himself as an idle. The influence of his parents embedded in oscar, intellectuality unmatched to other children of his age. Oscar is the second of the couples three children, though he has three halfsiblings from his fathers previous relationships.
Top 10 books by oscar wilde best book recommendations, best. Every wednesday, alex johnson delves into a unique collection of titles owned by the great, the good and the. A celebrated 19th century irish writer, oscar wilde s poems, stories, and plays, have earned him dedicated fans the world over. A stellar book on that rare lord of language, oscar wilde. Jane wilde on the other hand was an irish nationalist as well as a poet. Oscar fingall oflahertie wills wilde, 18541900, irish author and wit, b. Matthew sturgis, the author, knows both the era in which wilde lived and his subject cold. The best books on oscar wilde five books expert recommendations. Today he is remembered for plays and beautiful words that have been quoted below in a compilation of 70 brilliant oscar wilde quotes. Oscar wilde wrote many books, but only one was a novel. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde 16 october 1854 30 november 1900 was an irish poet and playwright. It was first attributed to wilde in 1912 in the biography oscar wilde. Playwright, poet, and essayist oscar wilde may be the most famous quotesmith in literary history. In 1864, he was knighted for his services in the censuses of ireland.
His father, sir william robert wills wilde, was a noted eyeear surgeon. Massee, illustrated by frederick ehrlich, avon press new york, ny, 1905. From his outsize celebrity in victorian london to his authorship of fiction, drama, and poetry that uniquely captured his era, its fair to say that wilde succeeded on both counts. He wrote a number of great plays as well as essays, poetry and novels. I am so clever that sometimes i dont understand a single word of what i am saying. Oscar wilde was born at 21 westland row, which presently belongs to trinity college dublin. Being a collection of the best poems and prose extracts of the writer, collected by oscar herrmann, edited by w. The world is divided into two classes, those who believe the incredible, and. An irish writer like no other, the beloved oscar wilde. Oscar wildes most famous novel the picture of dorian gray. A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde was born to successful dublin intellectuals, sir william wilde and jane francesca wilde on october 16, 1854 at 21 westland row, dublin. He was educated at trinity college, dublin and magdalen college, oxford where, a disciple of pater, he founded an aesthetic cult.
Oscar wilde books biography and list of works author. For example, when he was told to take a scene out of the importance of being earnest by the actormanager george alexander, he replied. Oscar wilde quotes author of the picture of dorian gray. He was an academic classicist, a poet and a didactic aesthete. He was the son of sir william wilde and author jane wilde and the second of three children. Quotations by oscar wilde, irish dramatist, born october 16, 1854.
This is a bibliography of works by oscar wilde, a latevictorian irish writer. Dorian grey is a fashionable young man who fears ageing and seeks eternal youthfulness and beauty that comes. After graduating from oxford university, he lectured as a poet, art critic and a leading proponent. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, the early 1890s saw him become one of the most popular playwrights in london. Besieged by female groupies, he flirted so brazenly it scandalised a nation and drove husbands mad with jealousy.
The 10 most popular misconceptions about oscar wilde books. List of the best oscar wilde books, ranked by voracious readers in the ranker community. Oscar wilde biography famous people in history, famous. Oscar wilde the everquotable oscar wilde 18541900 was an irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet who delighted victorian england with his legendary wit. Top 5 best oscar wilde books you should know discover. Here are his 40 most popular according to goodreads.
On october 16, 1854, oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde was born in dublin, ireland. Knighted in 1864, oscar s father was a distinguished ophthalmologic surgeon and philanthropist who wrote many books. Author, playwright and poet oscar wilde was a popular literary figure in late victorian england. Hodge london, england, 1948, published as the three trials of oscar wilde, university books new york, ny, 1956, new and enlarged 2nd edition published as famous trials, seventh series. Oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde was born on 16 october 1854 in dublin, ireland. Wilde is perhaps most famous for his plays, wilde was born in dublin, ireland in 1854. Wilde s oeuvre includes criticism, poetry, childrens fiction, and a.
Wilde and taylor court transcripts, edited and introduced by h. About famous oscar wilde quotes playwright, poet, and essayist oscar wilde may be the most famous quotesmith in literary history. May 06, 2003 merlin holland is oscar wilde s grandson and the sole executor of his estate. Poems, novels, plays, and fairy tails by oscar wilde and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The picture of dorian gray the picture of dorian gray is wilde s only novel, and was first published in a magazine in 1890. It is a carefully cultivated image that wilde developed. In 1884 he married constance lloyd, and his two sons were born in 1885 and 1886. Coming back to his literary endeavours, wildes greatness can be felt in his quotes that give a new perception about life. The best oscar wilde poems everyone should read interesting. Oscar wilde biography, books and facts famous authors. In 1900 at the age of 46, he died of meningitis following an acute ear infection. His father, sir william wilde, was irelands leading ear and eye surgeon, who also published books on archaeology.
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