The Importance of Being Earnest (Prime Classics Library) (Golding & Clarke: Easy to Read Format, #3) (Plays by Oscar Wilde)

by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's brilliant play makes fun of the English upper classes with light-hearted satire and dazzling humour. It is 1890's England and two young gentlemen are being somewhat limited with the truth. To inject some excitement into their lives, Mr Worthing invents a brother, Earnest, as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind him to pursue the object of his desire, the ravishing Gwendolyn. While across town Algernon Montecrieff decides to take the name Earnest, when visiting Worthing's young ward Cecily. The real fun and confusion begins when the two end up together and their deceptions are in danger of being revealed.

• ISBN10: 0140621725
• ISBN13: 9780140621723
• Publish Date: 30 March 1995 (first published 14 February 1895)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 7 April 2011
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Penguin Classics
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 80
• Language: English

Reviews

[lyx]

Such a fun play! I dare say you'd be troubled to find someone who couldn't enjoy it, but in fairness I am partial to Wilde's writing and sense of humor.

[celinenyx]

The first good thing about TIOBE is that it’s short. It’s a play! It’s extremely easy to read, since it’s all just dialogue. I’ve never been able to get through a classic this fast. It doesn’t use many hard words or therms you might not know. TIOBE is extremely accessible for people that would like to give classics a try, but don’t know where to start.

I can easily imagine this sort of story being the predecessor of soap series. It has everything: drama, suspense, mistaken identities, romance, cross family members. And all of that infused with a good healthy dose of sarcastic social commentary. Absolutely wonderful. TIOBE kept me entertained for a nice hour or two, and I definitely giggled at some of Wilde’s word plays and insane situations.

I highly recommend The Importance of Being Earnest, and hope to read The Picture of Dorian Grey by Wilde soon. If you decide to read it (or if you have read it), let me know! I’d love to talk about this one.