A Trivial Comedy for Serious People (Acting Edition)

Oscar Wilde must have been quite the character in his day. This play about mistaken identity is not only laugh out loud funny but cutting at the same time. He skewers the upper class with his observations about their behaviour. No wonder it has been done in countless theaters over the years and been made into at least one film that I can think of.

The relationships in the importance of being earnest build quickly for the reader, and make for a very enjoyable read. The back and forth between Jack and Algernon are especially funny. Great classic read.

This 54-page version does not include the lobster scene, which I saw in an excellent production recently, and would love to read. My book club is gong to discuss this play, and I'm tempted to go through and underline every epigram, just for fun. I wish life was more like this play! If you've never read it, you're in for a treat!

I did not realize I had seen this movie, which is very good. So watch it, but read the book first. It's a silly, cute movie. The book is very good also.. go figure... Ernest in the county or who's his name in the city. I do like him in the country. And the city. Maybe men in the city need to go to the country. You pick'...

The senior play when I was in high school was "The Importance of Being Ernest." I worked behind the stage and had never read the book/play. If you would like to improve your use of English as a language, you must read this. Oscar Wilde certainly had a way with the language. I plan to read it again, perhaps out loud.

well, do you want to read Oscar Wilde's best work of fiction, then read The Importance of Being Earnest. This is rather a booklet with no introduction or preface, just the text of the play, which makes it even easy to read. It gives me a sense of a favourite book which is going always to be my favourite. The cover is just good so I recommend it, but not if you want guidelines and an introduction, this is a book for someone who wants to enjoy the play itself.

This 54-page version does not include the lobster scene, which I saw in an excellent production recently, and would love to read. My book club is gong to discuss this play, and I'm tempted to go through and underline every epigram, just for fun. I wish life was more like this play! If you've never read it, you're in for a treat!

I did not realize I had seen this movie, which is very good. So watch it, but read the book first. It's a silly, cute movie. The book is very good also.. go figure... Ernest in the county or who's his name in the city. I do like him in the country. And the city. Maybe men in the city need to go to the country. You pick'...

The senior play when I was in high school was "The Importance of Being Ernest." I worked behind the stage and had never read the book/play. If you would like to improve your use of English as a language, you must read this. Oscar Wilde certainly had a way with the language. I plan to read it again, perhaps out loud.

well, do you want to read Oscar Wilde's best work of fiction, then read The Importance of Being Earnest. This is rather a booklet with no introduction or preface, just the text of the play, which makes it even easy to read. It gives me a sense of a favourite book which is going always to be my favourite. The cover is just good so I recommend it, but not if you want guidelines and an introduction, this is a book for someone who wants to enjoy the play itself.

Oscar Wilde was so impressed with his own perceived brilliance that he endeavors to demonstrate this brilliance in every sentence. Unfortunately saying something stupid is often interpreted as non-conformity once a reputation for cleverness has been achieved. I think the emperor is naked but people write PhD theses on his clothes.

This play is so silly I was unable to finish it. Netflix keeps recommending it to me and, after starting the book, I can't see why. It is a look at the wealthy, with nothing but time on their hand, being nothing but idle and silly.

My order arrived on time and the product was in good condition. I have no complaints other than the cover of the book did not match the one shown when purchasing. It is the same book though, so I am happy and will definitely buy from the store again and again.

Just wanted to read this acclaimed play. It was not as interesting as I thought it would be to read. However, it is considered a classical piee of work , and I want to read a lot of classical pieces in lieu of much of the prpesent works, which may or may not be very worthwhile, but, in any event have not yet stood the test of time

I was very hesitant to read as required for Composition and Literature class because I hate drama/playwrights. I was in for a real surprise! This piece of literature was strange, goofy, filled with irony and puns. There is a lot that a reader can take from this piece.

One of my favorite reads. If you are into literature and want to enjoy something in one sitting - this is for you. If you or someone you love is into humour and poetry and can handle something a hundred years old - I highly recommend it.

Used this for a midterm project in a Costume Design course in University. Love the play and the time period. Wish I could see it performed but I don't think I'll be able to for a while. I would recommend giving this one a chance!

Oscar Wilde is ALWAYS entertaining, whether in his dramatic writings: Portrait of Dorian Gray, An Ideal Husband...but he is SUPERB as writer of comedy, and, for me, nothing topples "The Importance of Being Earnest." It's sublimely intelligent, surprising the funny bone at every corner. Thank you, Oscar Wilde.

The Importance of Being Earnest has always been one of my favorite books ever! I read it out in no time again after downloading the Kindle edition which I found well presented. I thoroughly advise anyone to get it.

Avant-garde literature in the second half of the nineteenth century and into the 1900s seemed to be obsessed with irony. O. Henry stories strike me as the epitome of the ironic style in American literature. In eighth grade we were told that his specialty was "surprise endings." It is true that he liked surprise endings, but a deeper analysis is that all those surprises were formulaic exercises in irony. The hobo is inspired to make a better life for himself and at that very moment he's arrested for vagrancy. The wife sells her hair and the husband sells his watch so they can buy each other expensive gifts that are now useless. (And the title takes a dig at the original Christmas story--oh so ironic). Ambrose Bierce worked over ironic situations from the Civil War with the same cold detachment. The son kills his father on the other side of the war (or does the father kill the son?). The gunner fires a cannon and destroys his own house. "The Red Badge of Courage" is deeply ironic but I think it manages to rise above pure irony. Kate Chopin followed the same formula in her short stories, but I consider "The Awakening" to be a masterpiece of character and tragedy rather than an ironic commentary (the fact that it retells the basic story of "Madam Bovary" may have had a lot to do with that).

I have no problem with irony as a literary device or even as an outlook on life, but taken to extremes I find it tiresome and a moral copout. Oscar Wilde steps into this milieu and writes something of a farce in that "Earnest" has a plot based on mistaken identity/disguises and sort of a comedy of manners, but with a very heavy dose of ironic drawing room banter featuring a bunch of bored people showing off how jaded and cleverly ironic they are. I don't see any character development or any reason to get emotionally involved with these characters. Obviously a lot of reviewers like this style, but I just get bored with it.

If you want to read or see a real farce, I recommend Feydeau. As far as I know, his plays are all short and the ones I've seen are really funny and timeless because they are based on classic farcical situations. And I don't recall any overlay of social commentary. Ionesco's plays are outwardly farcical, though they have a very dark undertone. I think these masters of theater leave Wilde in the dust.

I didn't expect The Importance of Being Earnest to be so much fun! Usually reading a play, instead of seeing a performance, doesn't give me as much enjoyment, but Oscar Wilde's free-wheeling use of language had me laughing out loud. If you enjoy words and clever use of the english language with a little satire thrown in, you'll love this.

We had seen The Importance of Being Earnest many years ago as a play and really enjoyed it. That is why I got this e-book and it brought back good memories of the play. I'd like to get The Foreigner next as that was really good also.

I had to read this book for a college course and was pleasantly surprised that I actually enjoyed it! Then, I saw the movie on one of the pay movie channels and enjoyed seeing the characters come to life!

Used this for a midterm project in a Costume Design course in University. Love the play and the time period. Wish I could see it performed but I don't think I'll be able to for a while. I would recommend giving this one a chance!

Oscar Wilde is ALWAYS entertaining, whether in his dramatic writings: Portrait of Dorian Gray, An Ideal Husband...but he is SUPERB as writer of comedy, and, for me, nothing topples "The Importance of Being Earnest." It's sublimely intelligent, surprising the funny bone at every corner. Thank you, Oscar Wilde.

The Importance of Being Earnest has always been one of my favorite books ever! I read it out in no time again after downloading the Kindle edition which I found well presented. I thoroughly advise anyone to get it.