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The Importance of Being Earnest

(Norton Critical Editions)

By Oscar Wilde

(868)

| Paperback | 9780393927535

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Book Description

The text of this Norton Critical Edition of The Importance of Being Earnest is the established three-act version. Originally in four acts, Wilde shortened it to three at the urging of George Alexander, the owner of the St. James Theatre and first actor to play Jack Worthing. The play is accomContinue

The text of this Norton Critical Edition of The Importance of Being Earnest is the established three-act version. Originally in four acts, Wilde shortened it to three at the urging of George Alexander, the owner of the St. James Theatre and first actor to play Jack Worthing. The play is accompanied by explanatory annotations and by an appendix of excised portions.

"Backgrounds" includes essays on Wilde and the 1890s by prominent cultural critics Joseph Donohue, Regenia Gagnier, and Karl Beckson.

"Reviews and Reactions" collects contemporary responses to The Importance of Being Earnest, among them George Bernard Shaw's famous dissenting view and the American assessment by H. F. "Essays in Criticism" includes six diverse assessments of Wilde and the play by E. H. Mikhail, Camille Paglia, Christopher Craft, Michael Patrick Gillespie, Peter Raby, and Richard Haslam.

A Chronology and Selected Bibliography are also included.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehensive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

Critics

  • 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde

    I had seen a film version of this play a couple of years ago (the 2002 version starring Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench) and I remember laughing out loud at a lot of it. But seeing the words in black-an ... (read full critics)

    readingmatters published on Tue, 28 Sep 2010

  • The Two Oscar Wildes

    At the climax of Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest, we learn that a baby has been mistaken for a book. Until that improbable revelation, however, the play—Wilde’s wicked exposé of the artificiality of conventional moral ... (read full critics)

    nybooks published on Sat, 21 Aug 2010

18 Reviews

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  • 4 people find this helpful

    A trivial comedy for serious people

    Divertentissimo!!

    I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between my-self and a young person.

    -I really don't see anything romantic in proposing.It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may b ... (continue)

    Divertentissimo!!

    I have only been married once. That was in consequence of a misunderstanding between my-self and a young person.

    -I really don't see anything romantic in proposing.It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. If ever I get married, I'll certainly try to forget the fact.
    - I have no doubt about that, dear Alvy. The Divorce Court was specially invented for people whose memories are so curiously constituted.

    A man who marries without knowing Bunbury has a very tedious time of it.

    Is this helpful?

    Giulia Irene said on Nov 20, 2009 | 2 feedbacks

  • 2 people find this helpful

    That is the first time I read one of Wilde's work and I found it really amusing! I have to say that not being an anglophone penalised me a bit as some phrases, terms or idioms were not fully comprehensible to me; however I believe I have understood most part of the comedy.
    And I have to say that it ... (continue)

    That is the first time I read one of Wilde's work and I found it really amusing! I have to say that not being an anglophone penalised me a bit as some phrases, terms or idioms were not fully comprehensible to me; however I believe I have understood most part of the comedy.
    And I have to say that it was not only entertaining but I found in it some interesting ideas and points of view previously unknown to me!
    I will gladly read some other Wilde's plays or novels!

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    Scipio said on Jan 7, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • 2 people find this helpful

    Oscar Wilde's wittism is irresistible. This play I think is the most readable and entertaining and contains many of his famous quotes.

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    Mayng504 said on Oct 14, 2007 | Add your feedback

  • Una commedia divertente e spassosa, si legge in inglese con molta facilità!

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    Mr Irvin said on Feb 5, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • Read this to prepare for the play I'm about to watch in February 2012.
    An interesting read packed with oxymorons and cynicism.

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    Ochya said on Jan 6, 2012 | Add your feedback

  • 1 person find this helpful

    «He has nothing, but he looks everything. What more can one desire?»

    In una parola: frizzante. Non ricordavo che Wilde fosse così divertente, e neanche che fosse così piacevole da leggere (ma immagino che una commedia debba essere per forza di cose più scorrevole di un racconto o di un romanzo).

    A chi si trovasse in dubbio su quale traduzione italiana scegliere lo c ... (continue)

    In una parola: frizzante. Non ricordavo che Wilde fosse così divertente, e neanche che fosse così piacevole da leggere (ma immagino che una commedia debba essere per forza di cose più scorrevole di un racconto o di un romanzo).

    A chi si trovasse in dubbio su quale traduzione italiana scegliere lo consiglio direttamente in inglese. A parte la difficoltà nel rendere il gioco di parole earnest-Ernest (anche se per me la soluzione migliore è giocare su onesto-Ernesto), nonostante abbia più di cent'anni ha un linguaggio molto moderno e accessibile.

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    Eustachio said on Jan 2, 2012 about the eBook edition | 2 feedbacks

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