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I Can Resist Everything Except Temptation: The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde
A book of the greatest quips many of us will ever read, Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde is a compilation of the author's best, and most clever sayings, letters and speeches. Every page is a new look into the mind of Oscar Wilde and his incredibly lavish lifestyle and quirky thoughts.
The first year of the twenty-first century marked the centenary of the death of one of the most extraordinary figures in English letters—the Irish writer, socialite and, supremely, wit, Oscar Wilde. A fervently written Publisher's forward opens the book with the background of Oscar Wilde's demise, plus a look into the daily life of Oscar Wilde.
Pick up a copy of Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde for the literary genius or rebel with an attitude in your life, who will surely cherish the charm and anti-establishment yet graceful attitude of Oscar Wilde. A beautifully bound hardback edition of this book offers a wonderful gift for anyone looking to round out their Wilde collection or add a conversation-starter to their coffee table or bookshelf. The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde will make a great gift for anyone interested in English Literature, learning new jokes or how to live a most fabulous life.
The first year of the twenty-first century marked the centenary of the death of one of the most extraordinary figures in English letters—the Irish writer, socialite and, supremely, wit, Oscar Wilde. A fervently written Publisher's forward opens the book with the background of Oscar Wilde's demise, plus a look into the daily life of Oscar Wilde.
Pick up a copy of Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde for the literary genius or rebel with an attitude in your life, who will surely cherish the charm and anti-establishment yet graceful attitude of Oscar Wilde. A beautifully bound hardback edition of this book offers a wonderful gift for anyone looking to round out their Wilde collection or add a conversation-starter to their coffee table or bookshelf. The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde will make a great gift for anyone interested in English Literature, learning new jokes or how to live a most fabulous life.
- GenresNonfictionHumor
192 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2015
9 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Oscar Wilde
4,289 books38.9k followersOscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 11, 2023
As an ardent fan of Oscar Wilde, I was quite happy to come across this book, even if now I wonder why I bought it. From his renowned witticisms to profound observations on life, love, art, and society, the selection captures the essence of his literary genius. The compilation is well-organized, with quotes arranged thematically, making it easy to navigate and find inspiration in specific areas of interest.
I do have reservations about its practicality, however, as I don't really know why I would really pick it up. It may lacks extensive commentary or analysis accompanying the quotes. However, for those who want a compact, elegantly designed volume dedicated solely to his memorable quotes, this certainly fits the bill.
I do have reservations about its practicality, however, as I don't really know why I would really pick it up. It may lacks extensive commentary or analysis accompanying the quotes. However, for those who want a compact, elegantly designed volume dedicated solely to his memorable quotes, this certainly fits the bill.
December 15, 2024
Oh to have a wit and humour like Oscar. That man was Wilde indeed.
I may or may not add my favourite quotes.
I may or may not add my favourite quotes.
February 22, 2024
Wilde was a fantastic writer and this has definitely made me interested in reading some books I hadn’t heard of before.
But this was really hard to get though - missing context takes away a lot particularly from old fashioned work. More of a flip through in a book shop book. Very sorry to the author, my fault for not enjoying this type of book!
But this was really hard to get though - missing context takes away a lot particularly from old fashioned work. More of a flip through in a book shop book. Very sorry to the author, my fault for not enjoying this type of book!
December 5, 2021
Wilde is always fun. A lot of his quips were written in dialog, and illuminate the character who spoke them rather than express Wilde's own view. Unfortunately, this collection doesn't always make that clear.
March 30, 2021
很适合睡前读读的句子集，王尔德的毒舌真不是盖的
August 23, 2021
i absolutely love oscar wilde, his commentary on americans is hilarious.
December 2, 2021
i love this guy's wit!
November 19, 2015
If you love reading Oscar Wilde then you'll enjoy having some of his best quips together in one volume.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews