I've seen The Importance of Being Ernest a few times, even in Dublin one time. I know I've read it back in the day too. Haven't read or seen any of his others plays, but you've inspired me to get a BBC collection of them all on Audible. I've got a road trip coming up this week, so will listen to at least two of them - once I finish the audio of Richard Osman's latest.
Just read and watched Lady Windermere’s Fan - I think it has become my favourite - as you said it is much more hard hitting on the social comment and morality side. And so full of quotable quotes!😁
Salome was actually the first play by Wilde I read - it was a school assignment. So I didn’t think it that weird at the time, I feel like it has a very simular aesthetic with his fairy tales. I’m planning to read Lady Windermere’s Fan this Victober for the first time so I’m really looking forward to that.The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favourite plays of all time and I really loved An Ideal Husband as well.
Loved this video, Roz! Thanks for all the context on Wilde’s plays. I read Earnest years ago (I think for school?) and was shocked at how hilarious it was. I read Dorian Gray last year and loved it too. I’m now anxious to read his other plays! Curious on your thoughts of if he could be labeled the “wittiest Victorian”, and if you think any contemporary authors are following in his footsteps either in style or tone.
Definitely the wittiest Victorian. I think the equivalent modern day humour probably appears in other media, people writing for TV or performing as stand-up comedians.
I have read oscar wilde's fairytales but this year was the first year when I read the picture of dorian gray (which I'm aware is a novel!) but then I saw it performed as a play afterwards and it was fantastic. I really want to read some of his plays now as well. Interesting to get some of his history and to see that the first one and the second flopped. He tried so hard with the tragedy genre! The Importance of being earnest and a woman of no importance are ones I want to read and try at some point. It sounds like he eventually got it with the play writing.
This accidentally went public before I had tidied it up! I think The Importance of Being Earnest stands up well to rereading. I found it interesting to observe more how he engineers the plot.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks when I first heard of the play I thought it was called the Importance of being Ernest. I had a very good friend called Ernest so that was what I heard.
I read The Importance of Being Earnest yesterday for the first time (following your instructions 😅) and I absolutely loved it! I made a little schedule for myself, to read one of his four major plays each weekend during Victober because now I need to discover the rest of them, I can't be satisfied with just Earnest, brillant as it is. You have unlocked a new obsession in me, thank you for that! ❤ PS: I also watched the film adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest from 2001, it's very delightful, and a few scenes from the 1952 version. I'm not sure if there are adaptations available for the other plays. I have seen a version of Lady Windermere's Fan from the 1920s several years ago but I never heard of film adaptations of An Ideal Husband or A Woman of no Importance. Do you have any clues about those?
@@betinaceciliafeld9854 oh I am so happy you read and watched Earnest and loved it. Makes Victober worthwhile! The 1999 film version of An Ideal Husband with Rupert Everett. Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Juliane Moore hits the right note I think. I'll rack my brains about A Woman of No Importance but I can't remember one.
I really enjoyed his comedic plays. Interesting enough, The Importance of Being Honest is my least favourite. I read it years ago and liked it well enough, and then I read Dorian Gray (which I don't like, I like his witticisms in plays but drove me crazy reading them in a novel), then I read Lady Windermere's Fan and adored it, I think A Woman of No Importance may be my favourite but An Ideal Husband is also so good. After I read them, I went back to Earnest and I do like it but I think it falls short for me because the others all feel a little meatier, the way they deal with disgrace, double standards and all. My favourite of his works is The Ballad of Reading Gaol. It is so beautiful, emotional and lyrical when speaking so much to the dehumanization of prisoners. It really struck me
@@KierTheScrivener I fell in love with The Importance of Being Earnest as a child but I agree there is more to take to heart in the other three society comedies, more politics and satire. I read the Ballad during Victober two years ago. It is beautiful and tragic.
I have read The Importance of Being Earnest in a past Victober. I just read An Ideal Husband. I liked it, but I prefer Earnest for sure. I hope to get around to another before the month ends, perhaps A Woman of No Importance.
This accidentally went public before getting tidied up! An Ideal Husband is surprisingly political isn't it? I hope you get to A Woman of No Importance. I'd love to hear your opinion of that one.
I must admit when I read The Importance of Being Earnest a few years ago I was a little underwhelmed. I think Wilde’s wit and humor has been so imitated over the years that it doesn’t seem as fresh as it once did. I do think I’d probably enjoy it more seeing it performed and will try some of his others the same way. Fascinating stuff though Ros and thank goodness he went from tragedy to humor- in his writing at least! 😢
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.
Oscar Wilde
@@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk classic Oscar!
I've seen The Importance of Being Ernest a few times, even in Dublin one time. I know I've read it back in the day too. Haven't read or seen any of his others plays, but you've inspired me to get a BBC collection of them all on Audible. I've got a road trip coming up this week, so will listen to at least two of them - once I finish the audio of Richard Osman's latest.
@@LouiseReader those BBC radio dramas are excellent. Just right for a journey.
This was absolutely fascinating Ros. I’m heading off to find some of these lesser known plays 😊
@@RaynorReadsStuff tell me what you think when you do. Vera and The Duchess of Padua are both on Project Gutenberg.
Thank you for this thoughtful overview. I really enjoyed watching it.
@@paulsomerville4005 I'm so glad if so.
Just read and watched Lady Windermere’s Fan - I think it has become my favourite - as you said it is much more hard hitting on the social comment and morality side. And so full of quotable quotes!😁
Yes under the brilliant brittle humour there's some emotional heft in Windermere's Fan.
It seems like there's a reason he's remembered for his later plays - an author who needed to learn his craft rather than arriving fully fledged
@@tillysshelf which is fair. I think he had huge intellectual curiosity and liked to try different things.
Salome was actually the first play by Wilde I read - it was a school assignment. So I didn’t think it that weird at the time, I feel like it has a very simular aesthetic with his fairy tales.
I’m planning to read Lady Windermere’s Fan this Victober for the first time so I’m really looking forward to that.The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my favourite plays of all time and I really loved An Ideal Husband as well.
@@marielevinska7329 that was a striking choice for schoolchildren to study. I can see the parallel to his fairy stories though.
Loved this video, Roz! Thanks for all the context on Wilde’s plays. I read Earnest years ago (I think for school?) and was shocked at how hilarious it was. I read Dorian Gray last year and loved it too. I’m now anxious to read his other plays! Curious on your thoughts of if he could be labeled the “wittiest Victorian”, and if you think any contemporary authors are following in his footsteps either in style or tone.
Definitely the wittiest Victorian. I think the equivalent modern day humour probably appears in other media, people writing for TV or performing as stand-up comedians.
I have read oscar wilde's fairytales but this year was the first year when I read the picture of dorian gray (which I'm aware is a novel!) but then I saw it performed as a play afterwards and it was fantastic. I really want to read some of his plays now as well. Interesting to get some of his history and to see that the first one and the second flopped. He tried so hard with the tragedy genre! The Importance of being earnest and a woman of no importance are ones I want to read and try at some point. It sounds like he eventually got it with the play writing.
@@OliviasCatastrophe yes with the last four he found the perfect vehicle for his wit.
Hi Roz, I have read The Importance of being Earnest years ago and might re-read it this year. I read A Woman of No Importance last year.
This accidentally went public before I had tidied it up! I think The Importance of Being Earnest stands up well to rereading. I found it interesting to observe more how he engineers the plot.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks when I first heard of the play I thought it was called the Importance of being Ernest. I had a very good friend called Ernest so that was what I heard.
@@59cubanita a deliberate pun of course.
I read The Importance of Being Earnest yesterday for the first time (following your instructions 😅) and I absolutely loved it! I made a little schedule for myself, to read one of his four major plays each weekend during Victober because now I need to discover the rest of them, I can't be satisfied with just Earnest, brillant as it is. You have unlocked a new obsession in me, thank you for that! ❤
PS: I also watched the film adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest from 2001, it's very delightful, and a few scenes from the 1952 version. I'm not sure if there are adaptations available for the other plays. I have seen a version of Lady Windermere's Fan from the 1920s several years ago but I never heard of film adaptations of An Ideal Husband or A Woman of no Importance. Do you have any clues about those?
@@betinaceciliafeld9854 oh I am so happy you read and watched Earnest and loved it. Makes Victober worthwhile!
The 1999 film version of An Ideal Husband with Rupert Everett. Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver and Juliane Moore hits the right note I think. I'll rack my brains about A Woman of No Importance but I can't remember one.
@@scallydandlingaboutthebooks oh, thank you for the film recommendation! I'll check that out!
I really enjoyed his comedic plays. Interesting enough, The Importance of Being Honest is my least favourite. I read it years ago and liked it well enough, and then I read Dorian Gray (which I don't like, I like his witticisms in plays but drove me crazy reading them in a novel), then I read Lady Windermere's Fan and adored it, I think A Woman of No Importance may be my favourite but An Ideal Husband is also so good. After I read them, I went back to Earnest and I do like it but I think it falls short for me because the others all feel a little meatier, the way they deal with disgrace, double standards and all. My favourite of his works is The Ballad of Reading Gaol. It is so beautiful, emotional and lyrical when speaking so much to the dehumanization of prisoners. It really struck me
@@KierTheScrivener I fell in love with The Importance of Being Earnest as a child but I agree there is more to take to heart in the other three society comedies, more politics and satire. I read the Ballad during Victober two years ago. It is beautiful and tragic.
I have read The Importance of Being Earnest in a past Victober. I just read An Ideal Husband. I liked it, but I prefer Earnest for sure. I hope to get around to another before the month ends, perhaps A Woman of No Importance.
This accidentally went public before getting tidied up! An Ideal Husband is surprisingly political isn't it? I hope you get to A Woman of No Importance. I'd love to hear your opinion of that one.
I must admit when I read The Importance of Being Earnest a few years ago I was a little underwhelmed. I think Wilde’s wit and humor has been so imitated over the years that it doesn’t seem as fresh as it once did. I do think I’d probably enjoy it more seeing it performed and will try some of his others the same way. Fascinating stuff though Ros and thank goodness he went from tragedy to humor- in his writing at least! 😢
@@josmith5992 I think seeing it performed is the ideal as always with plays.