Oscar Wilde – The Major Works (Oxford World’s Classics)

Description

“Oscar Wilde: The Major Works” is a collection of writings by the renowned Irish author and playwright Oscar Wilde. Compiled and edited by Isobel Murray, this edition was published by Oxford University Press as part of their “Oxford World’s Classics” series.

The collection includes some of Wilde’s most famous and influential works, spanning various genres such as plays, essays, poetry, and fiction. Among the works featured in this edition are:

1. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1890): Wilde’s only novel, which tells the story of a young man named Dorian Gray who sells his soul to preserve his youth and beauty while his portrait ages and reflects his moral corruption.

2. “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895): Wilde’s most famous play, a comedy of manners that satirizes Victorian society and its conventions, particularly regarding marriage and social status.

3. “De Profundis” (1905): A long letter written by Wilde during his imprisonment, addressed to his former lover Lord Alfred Douglas. In it, Wilde reflects on his spiritual and emotional journey, his experiences in prison, and his relationship with Douglas.

4. Selected essays, including “The Decay of Lying,” “The Soul of Man under Socialism,” and “The Critic as Artist,” in which Wilde expounds on aesthetics, literature, and society.

5. A selection of Wilde’s poetry, including “The Ballad of Reading Gaol,” written after his release from prison, which reflects on the harsh realities of prison life and the human capacity for cruelty and compassion.

“Oscar Wilde: The Major Works” provides readers with a comprehensive overview of Wilde’s literary output and his enduring influence on literature and culture. It is accompanied by informative introductions, annotations, and editorial notes that offer valuable context and insights into Wilde’s life, works, and legacy.