The complete literary oeuvre of one of the most celebrated authors and
controversial figures of fin de siècle Great Britain.
Playwright, poet, essayist, flamboyant man-about-town, Oscar Wilde
packed an astonishing amount of work, genius, and controversy into two
short decades, producing masterworks in every literary genre. This
comprehensive one-volume edition of his writings includes his only
novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, considered immoral by many when first
published at the end of the nineteenth century. Included also is Wilde's
original four-act version of his most popular play, The Importance of
Being Earnest, with readings from the revised edition; the essay "The
Portrait of Mr. W.H.," in which Wilde expanded his theory concerning the
mystery of Shakespeare's sonnets; and "De Profundis," his moving and
tragic letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, composed during Wilde's time in
prison.
With an introduction by Vyvyan Holland, Oscar Wilde's son, here are the
author's complete stories, plays, and poems, and a substantial number of
his essays and letters, all in their most authoritative texts.