The Importance of Being Earnest. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.
by WILDE, Oscar
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London, Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899. . First edition, limited issue, no. 371 of 1000 copies; small 4to; half-title, publisher's lilac cloth gilt designed by Charles Shannon, very light soiling, spine slightly faded.
First performed on 14th February 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest marked the zenith of Wilde's career, and followed on from the success of Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband, and A Woman of No Importance. However, as his professional star rose, so did the escalation of his feud with Lord Queensberry, father of his lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie). Only four days after the opening of the play Lord Queensberry left his card at Wilde's club, scrawled with the words 'For Oscar Wilde posing somdomite' [sic]. Wilde, despite the advice of his friends but egged on by his lover, sued Queensberry for libel, and the rest his history. On 25th May, in the ensuing trial brought by the Crown, Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour.
First performed on 14th February 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest marked the zenith of Wilde's career, and followed on from the success of Lady Windermere's Fan, An Ideal Husband, and A Woman of No Importance. However, as his professional star rose, so did the escalation of his feud with Lord Queensberry, father of his lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie). Only four days after the opening of the play Lord Queensberry left his card at Wilde's club, scrawled with the words 'For Oscar Wilde posing somdomite' [sic]. Wilde, despite the advice of his friends but egged on by his lover, sued Queensberry for libel, and the rest his history. On 25th May, in the ensuing trial brought by the Crown, Wilde was convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Shapero Rare Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 108852
- Title
- The Importance of Being Earnest. A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.
- Author
- WILDE, Oscar
- Book Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Place of Publication
- London, Leonard Smithers and Co., 1899.
Terms of Sale
Shapero Rare Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Shapero Rare Books
Biblio member since 2020
London, London
About Shapero Rare Books
Specialising in rare books on Travel & Voyages, Natural History, Literature (including modern first editions), Children's Books, Guide Books, Judaica & Hebraica, titles of Russian interest, and Islamica.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....