4/27/22. The importance of being earnest and other plays
By Oscar Wilde

Why I picked this book up: my two sons and wife loved this book. They cracked u the whole time simple I figure pd aid read it

Thoughts: I have always liked quotes I’ve read by Oscar Wilde. A universal favorite, The Importance of Being Earnest displays Oscar Wilde's theatrical genius at its brilliant best. Subtitled "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People", this hilarious attack on Victorian manners and morals turns a pompous world on its head, lets duplicity lead to happiness, and makes riposte the highest form of art. Also included in this special collection are Wilde's first comedy success, Lady Windermere's Fan, and his richly sensual melodrama, Salome. For me, this book did not measure up to what I expected. I was surprised my wife found this stuff from these characters funny. I did not see it cry funny at all.

Why I finished this read: I wanted to see if anything was good

Stars rating: 2/5 stars ( )

Quite possibly one of my favourite pieces of text of all time. Wilde's lampooning of the society of which he was a part and parcel is dead on. There is virtually no line in this script that is a throw-away - each word and direction is directly relevant to establishing the characters, the setting and shining a light on the superficiality and bombast of Victorian England. Delightful. ( )

Idiotic characters make tedious attempts at humor. ( )

I have yet to see The Importance of Being Earnest on stage, but I've seen the movie and it translates beautifully from the play. The play is full of such subtle humour - there are characters that you cannot help but laugh at. The whole thing plays out as a comedy of errors and I always find myself saying "oh no!" and clapping my hand over my mouth in delight at what is happening. ( )