The Importance of Being Earnest - Unabridged

"The Importance of Being Earnest" (subtitle: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People) by Oscar Wilde is considered by many to be the wittiest, most brilliant stage comedy ever written. Enormously successful when it was first staged in London, "Earnest" has gone on to become one of the most produced plays in history.

The plot satirizes Victorian society's obsession with appearances, marriage, and social status. The story follows two friends, Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who both lead double lives to escape social obligations. Jack pretends to be a man named "Ernest" in the city, while Algernon invents a sick friend named "Bunbury" to avoid dull events. Complications arise when both men fall in love-Jack with Gwendolen Fairfax and Algernon with Cecily Cardew-each believing they are engaged to "Ernest." To make matters worse, they must contend with the wealthy, powerful and terrifying dowager Lady Bracknell, in whose approval lies their future happiness.

Through mistaken identities, sharp dialogue, and absurd situations, Wilde exposes the hypocrisy and triviality of upper-class manners. The dialogue is crackling, the epigrams brilliant and the play itself a towering achievement by an artist at the top of his game. The play is presented here in its original and unabridged format.