The Book Report #130

Episode #129

The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde

Centenary Edition Compiled by Maria Leach

The Book

Michael O’Mara Books Limited originally titled the book The Importance of Being A Wit in 1997. The same company printed my copy, a 5th print hardback edition, in 1997.

This edition has 156 pages and nothing more.

What Did I Think?

Set out in chapters. But each chapter has a theme.

The book itself is collection of quotes from the various works that Oscar Wilde wrote during his life.

Throughout this book, we get to see a version of what Mr Wilde believed society was like during the time period. And, as with most things, it does not address the working class and the less fortunate. What we get, and what we always get, is the middle and upper classes’ view of how society should be. But never the reality.

But as I read through the book, I found myself enjoying the quotes. I have never read anything by Oscar Wilde before, or that I know of. I didn’t know the context of the quotes. Although we do get a title for where the quote came from. I found that I enjoyed them. And because I didn’t know the context of the words and sentences. I was free not to worry. And I found it all very relaxing.

We do get a little bit of history about the author. Even though he wrote many books and plays, it didn’t matter because of who he laid with. One or a few held a grudge against him, and they used the law to send him away. After prison, he had to move to another country because he didn’t feel safe anymore.

Words

However, as I read, I found that most of the quotes seem to be a bit bitchy. As society generally is in dramas of the era. A bunch of know-it-alls who know nothing real except feeling superior is always preferred. Questioning others about things that have nothing to do with them just for something to do, for some gossip, where boredom seems the norm.

I guess the original Karen.

And I still found it relaxing. I didn’t fight it; I just enjoyed the words, and that was that.

Would I Recommend?

Are you looking for something to read that doesn’t require you to do anything but read? And without thinking too much? This is a good book to try. I am now curious to read a book by Mr Wilde. And I think that was the point: A gateway, so to speak. I will keep an eye out and maybe search for a book or two.

Thank you, Mrs Leach.

Please give this a go.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy?

You could try these online stores: Amazon (UK/USA), Waterstones, AbeBooks (UK/USA), Barnes and Noble, eBay (UK/USA).

Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or your local library.