Oscar Wilde was already one of the best-known literary figures in Britain when he was persuaded to turn his extraordinary talents to the theatre. Between 1891 and 1895 he produced a sequence of distinctive plays which spearheaded the dramatic renaissance of the 1890s and retain their power today. This collection offers newly edited texts of Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, Salome, An Ideal Husband, and, arguably the greatest farcical comedy in English, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Under the General Editorship of Dr Michael Cordner of the University of York, the texts of the plays have been newly edited and are presented with modernized spelling and punctuation. In addition, there is a scholarly introduction and detailed annotation.

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Features

• A newly edited volume of some of Wilde's greatest plays.
• Includes arguably the greatest farcical comedy in English, The Importance of Being Earnest.

New to this Edition

• Modernized spelling and punctuation.
• A scholarly introduction and detailed annotation.

ABOUT THE SERIES

For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Note on the Texts
Select Bibliography
A Chronology of Oscar Wilde
LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN
SALOME
A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE
AN IDEAL HUSBAND
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Appendix: The First Scenario of The Importance of Being Earnest
Explanatory Notes
Footnotes

Oscar Wilde

Edited with an introduction and notes by Peter Raby, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Drama Department at Homerton College, Cambridge.

'the man had style and wit and was a great influence on the theatre of his time' -- Hamish Coghill, Evening News