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Oscar Wilde: The BBC Radio Drama Collection
Loved for his flamboyant personality, sparkling wit and brilliant epigrams, Oscar Wilde was a comic genius and a literary icon.
This collection reflects the many facets of his dazzling talent. Here are dramatisations of his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Gothic tale of a gilded aristocrat who makes a dangerous pact, as well as four scintillating social comedies – Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. Among the distinguished casts are Ian MacDiarmid, Joely Richardson, Edward Fox, Diana Rigg, Martin Clunes, Michael Hordern and Judi Dench.
Moving examples of his correspondence are revealed in The Letters of Oscar Wilde and De Profundis, read by Simon Callow and Simon Russell Beale respectively, and his most famous poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is performed live by stars including Ian McKellen, Neil Tennant and Stephen Fry.
In addition, a bonus drama, In Extremis by Neil Bartlett, starring Corin Redgrave and Sheila Hancock, reimagines Oscar Wilde's hastily arranged sitting with a society palm reader, a week before the trial that would cost him so dearly.
This collection reflects the many facets of his dazzling talent. Here are dramatisations of his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, a Gothic tale of a gilded aristocrat who makes a dangerous pact, as well as four scintillating social comedies – Lady Windermere’s Fan, A Woman of No Importance, The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. Among the distinguished casts are Ian MacDiarmid, Joely Richardson, Edward Fox, Diana Rigg, Martin Clunes, Michael Hordern and Judi Dench.
Moving examples of his correspondence are revealed in The Letters of Oscar Wilde and De Profundis, read by Simon Callow and Simon Russell Beale respectively, and his most famous poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is performed live by stars including Ian McKellen, Neil Tennant and Stephen Fry.
In addition, a bonus drama, In Extremis by Neil Bartlett, starring Corin Redgrave and Sheila Hancock, reimagines Oscar Wilde's hastily arranged sitting with a society palm reader, a week before the trial that would cost him so dearly.
Audible Audio
Published April 4, 2019
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About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,495 books38.8k 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 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 16, 2019
I'm currently listening to this audiobook; I love Oscar Wilde and wanted to listen to some kind of theatrical adaptation.
I've skipped for now "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", I didn't feel like listening to the dramatisation of the novel, I'd like to reread it first.
So, "Lady Windermere’s Fan":
Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Windermere, is very good. The character is quite insufferable, however. Strange, I wasn't so much irked by her personality when I read this play, maybe because I was about her age then, and probably more rigid and full of righteousness? ^-^ I just wonder if Oscar Wilde really liked her or just wanted to show how inflexibly could easily rimed with stupidity...
Conversely I'm not convinced by the actor who reads Lord Darlington part (I couldn't find his name) who drawls like an old cowboy! It's so weird, firstly because I always thought this character was youngish, and secondly because this kind of speech seams to me completely wrong to utter quite a lot of famous quotes, witty, self deprecating and wry. The character sounds complacent and boring, un comble! (couldn't find the English equivalent, Word Reference propose "that takes the biscuit" :D)
To be continued :)
I've skipped for now "The Portrait of Dorian Gray", I didn't feel like listening to the dramatisation of the novel, I'd like to reread it first.
So, "Lady Windermere’s Fan":
Joely Richardson, who plays Lady Windermere, is very good. The character is quite insufferable, however. Strange, I wasn't so much irked by her personality when I read this play, maybe because I was about her age then, and probably more rigid and full of righteousness? ^-^ I just wonder if Oscar Wilde really liked her or just wanted to show how inflexibly could easily rimed with stupidity...
Conversely I'm not convinced by the actor who reads Lord Darlington part (I couldn't find his name) who drawls like an old cowboy! It's so weird, firstly because I always thought this character was youngish, and secondly because this kind of speech seams to me completely wrong to utter quite a lot of famous quotes, witty, self deprecating and wry. The character sounds complacent and boring, un comble! (couldn't find the English equivalent, Word Reference propose "that takes the biscuit" :D)
To be continued :)
November 22, 2025
نامههاش خیلی ناراحتکننده بودن. :(((
July 5, 2019
This was a (mostly) fun collection of some of Oscar Wilde's plays, plus a few letters as a bonus. Some I liked more than others, but overall it was worth it! My personal highlights were De Profundis and The Ballad of Reading Goal, which I didn't know before, but really loved! I also loved the informative letters and the way they were presented!
The Picture of Dorian Gray: 3 stars
Unfortunately, this dramatization did not really work for me. The actors where ok, but I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading the book.
Lady Windermere's Fan: 2.5 stars
I absolutely LOATHED Lady Windermere, so the actress was a good casting choice. Unfortunately, Edward Fox is not my idea of a Lord Darlington, his voice just was not a good fit for me.
A Woman of No Importance: 3 stars
It was ok? I loved Diana Rigg as the "Woman of no importance", but the rest was just meh for me.
The Importance of Being Earnest: 5 stars
I still prefer the audio version that has James Marsters, but listening to Michael Sheen as Jack battling Judi Dench as Lady B was really hilarious!
An Ideal Husband:2 stars
Meh. I already forgot all about this.
Letters: 5 stars
I really liked the collection of letters. It served as a short biography and was highly interesting.
De Profundis: 5 stars
Simon Russell Beale read a (sadly abridged) version perfectly! I need to get my hands on a complete version asap. It was just wonderfully sad and melancholy, but still somehow sparkling in places.
The Ballad of Reading Gaol: 5 stars
This has to be one of the most depressing things ever. But still somehow hauntingly beautiful. This was a live benefit performance, and overall there was just one actor whose voice was to high and squeaky for me to enjoy, but the others, especially Ian McKellen, more than made up for this!
In Extremis by Neil Bartlett: 1.5 stars
I do not get this play. The actors were really good, but the story itself confused me. For the most part, I couldn't follow what was said as an aside or actually out loud to the other person, and I have a hard time understanding how this would work on stage to be honest.
The Picture of Dorian Gray: 3 stars
Unfortunately, this dramatization did not really work for me. The actors where ok, but I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading the book.
Lady Windermere's Fan: 2.5 stars
I absolutely LOATHED Lady Windermere, so the actress was a good casting choice. Unfortunately, Edward Fox is not my idea of a Lord Darlington, his voice just was not a good fit for me.
A Woman of No Importance: 3 stars
It was ok? I loved Diana Rigg as the "Woman of no importance", but the rest was just meh for me.
The Importance of Being Earnest: 5 stars
I still prefer the audio version that has James Marsters, but listening to Michael Sheen as Jack battling Judi Dench as Lady B was really hilarious!
An Ideal Husband:2 stars
Meh. I already forgot all about this.
Letters: 5 stars
I really liked the collection of letters. It served as a short biography and was highly interesting.
De Profundis: 5 stars
Simon Russell Beale read a (sadly abridged) version perfectly! I need to get my hands on a complete version asap. It was just wonderfully sad and melancholy, but still somehow sparkling in places.
The Ballad of Reading Gaol: 5 stars
This has to be one of the most depressing things ever. But still somehow hauntingly beautiful. This was a live benefit performance, and overall there was just one actor whose voice was to high and squeaky for me to enjoy, but the others, especially Ian McKellen, more than made up for this!
In Extremis by Neil Bartlett: 1.5 stars
I do not get this play. The actors were really good, but the story itself confused me. For the most part, I couldn't follow what was said as an aside or actually out loud to the other person, and I have a hard time understanding how this would work on stage to be honest.
May 21, 2023
The plays were quite alike, full of Wilde's witty (but a bit pretentious) one-liners, and I couldn't listen to them one after the other. They are very good, but not varied enough, and I did some other reading in-between.
The letters and the poem, on the other hand, were perfect. The choice of Wilde's letters, and the cuts between _De Profundis_ and Robbie Ross' comments were just great.
After that linguistic extravaganza, _In Extremis_ had a hard time living up to Wilde's level, and fell a bit short.
The play / reading of the actors was a joy to listen to. It was just a bit difficult to keep them a part. Especially in _A Woman of No Importance_, there were so many roles, that I read the text in parallel to know who said what. (And discovered some cuts, which must have been the respect the radio show's time constraint. No big deal.)
The letters and the poem, on the other hand, were perfect. The choice of Wilde's letters, and the cuts between _De Profundis_ and Robbie Ross' comments were just great.
After that linguistic extravaganza, _In Extremis_ had a hard time living up to Wilde's level, and fell a bit short.
The play / reading of the actors was a joy to listen to. It was just a bit difficult to keep them a part. Especially in _A Woman of No Importance_, there were so many roles, that I read the text in parallel to know who said what. (And discovered some cuts, which must have been the respect the radio show's time constraint. No big deal.)
November 14, 2021
This is by no means a bad effort, but as with every collection of works, not everything can be brilliant which inevitably leads to a lower rating and shouldn’t be seen as a reflection of all of Wilde’s work. I skipped In Extremis (not written by Wilde but rather a play about Wilde…) and De Profundis (which is abridged here, and the reading of which I thoroughly enjoyed in its full version just a few weeks ago).
The abridged version of The Picture Of Dorian Gray for theatre is not bad, the recording however could have been done a lot better and it’s hard to hear at times. You’re much better off reading the book itself.
The theatre pieces are well produced and very enjoyable, given they all share common themes and styles I would advise to listen to them with some breaks in between rather than back-to-back to avoid fatigue. At any rate that makes the pleasure last longer!
A highlight is probably The Ballad of Reading Gaol with a star studded cast (Ian McKellen and Stephen Fry to name but a few). But I also particularly enjoyed Lady Windermere’s Fan.
All in all I think that Oscar Wilde is best enjoyed in your own head for the books and letters, and in a live theatre performance for the plays. He is too brilliant for an audiobook type experience.
The abridged version of The Picture Of Dorian Gray for theatre is not bad, the recording however could have been done a lot better and it’s hard to hear at times. You’re much better off reading the book itself.
The theatre pieces are well produced and very enjoyable, given they all share common themes and styles I would advise to listen to them with some breaks in between rather than back-to-back to avoid fatigue. At any rate that makes the pleasure last longer!
A highlight is probably The Ballad of Reading Gaol with a star studded cast (Ian McKellen and Stephen Fry to name but a few). But I also particularly enjoyed Lady Windermere’s Fan.
All in all I think that Oscar Wilde is best enjoyed in your own head for the books and letters, and in a live theatre performance for the plays. He is too brilliant for an audiobook type experience.
Read
June 3, 2020 I listened to this collection and enjoyed it. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" has been a long-time favorite of mine but "The Importance of Being Earnest" is the best! What a quick wit, Wilde has. The other stories included are interesting but nothing special. The last part of the book is letters from Oscar Wilde. They aren't entertaining but they do describe his troubled life that he attributes to decisions he admits were harmful.
Wilde was truly a gifted writer who was a very bright student in his early years. Because of some life-changing decisions he made he died an early death, in misery, at the age of 46.
Wilde was truly a gifted writer who was a very bright student in his early years. Because of some life-changing decisions he made he died an early death, in misery, at the age of 46.
May 15, 2019
I've posted short reviews for the plays, so this is mainly for the Letters, De Profundis, the live reading of The Ballad of Reading Gaol and the play In Extremis by Neil Bartlett.
The Letters of Oscar Wilde and De Profundis (a long letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, written in prison) are wonderfully narrated and very moving.
I liked Bartlett's play as well. The actor portraying Wilde has a lovely, subtle Irish accent.
Overall, you can't help but feel sad that his brilliant mind was extinguished when he was still so young.
The Letters of Oscar Wilde and De Profundis (a long letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, written in prison) are wonderfully narrated and very moving.
I liked Bartlett's play as well. The actor portraying Wilde has a lovely, subtle Irish accent.
Overall, you can't help but feel sad that his brilliant mind was extinguished when he was still so young.
November 8, 2025
This was simply brilliant, the audio, the acting, the storylines, the text. Had to stop several times and re-listen particular parts, simply because I enjoyed the dialogue so much.
“De profundis” simply broke my heart, the letter to Bosie is filled with love/hate, regret, disappointment and yet longing.
“De profundis” simply broke my heart, the letter to Bosie is filled with love/hate, regret, disappointment and yet longing.
February 24, 2022
4 stars overall, but I don't know that listening to four such similar plays back-to-back like this did them any favours? (I only listened to the plays - I have no interest whatsoever in The Picture of Dorian Grey, or in Wilde's letters).
June 15, 2019
Scratching that Downton itch
April 12, 2020
I've read these plays, I've seen them in the theaters, I've seen the movies adaptations yet this radio production was still able to bring me so much joy. The voices, the music, everything.
May 28, 2020
I can resist everything but temptation
May 14, 2022
My favourites: The Picture of Dorian Gray, Lady Windermere's Fan, & The Importance of Being Earnest.
August 7, 2024
Listened by audiobook. A wonderful ensemble cast for each section and beautifully presented. What a fascinating character Oscar Wilde must have been. And how eloquent an artist.
June 8, 2025
Wilde is meant to be read aloud/performed. There is a reason Dorian Grey and Ernest are the best known - the wit is endless. I also liked Lady Windermere and Ideal Husband. Is it dated yes and no.
September 29, 2025
The amount of talent in this collection is AMAZING. And Oscar Wilde out loud is so so good. I love everything about this.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews