The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde contains his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray; all his stories, plays and poems; and a substantial number of his essays and letters, all in their most authoritative texts. The Importance of Being Earnest, for example, is given in the original four-act version, with readings from the revised edition, while "De Profundis," his moving and tragic letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, is from the manuscript held by the British Museum until 1960 — the only complete and accurate source. This is the first one-volume anthology to include "The Portrait of Mr. W.H.," in which Wilde expanded his theory concerning the mystery of Shakespeare's sonnets, and also "A Few Maxims for the Instruction of the Over-Educated," a series of aphorisms typical of Wilde. It carried, too, an introduction by Vyvyan Holland, Oscar Wilde's son.
Author
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories, and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest. As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty.
