1854–1900 · Irish playwright and poet
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist born in Dublin.
Every Wilde book as eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and printed at cost price as a paperback, hardcover or large print. With 200,000+ more classics and 5 accounts for the price of one.
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Oscar Wilde (1854 to 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright known for dark fiction and comedy. Begin with The Picture of Dorian Gray, about youth, beauty and hidden wrongdoing. Read or listen here: eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and paperback, hardcover or large print, printed at cost, free to start.
Where to start with Oscar Wilde
Start hereThe Picture of Dorian GrayChoose this for a longer, darker read about a young man whose portrait bears the marks of his wrongdoing.
Read nextPoems, with The Ballad of Reading GaolRead these poems for a shift from beauty, desire and faith to the suffering of prisoners.
Read nextThe Canterville GhostTry this shorter, comic ghost story for an English haunting that an American family refuses to take seriously.
Oscar Wilde's books in order
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Novels
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1890 | The Picture of Dorian Gray A man stays young while his portrait records his sins. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
Stories and shorter works
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1887 | The Canterville Ghost An American family refuses to fear an English house ghost. | Short story | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1888 | The Happy Prince, and Other Tales Five fairy tales test kindness, love, pride and sacrifice. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1891 | A House of Pomegranates Four fairy tales link beauty and desire with suffering. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | · | Lord Arthur Savile's Crime; The Portrait of Mr. W.H., and Other Stories Fortune tellers, ghosts and secrets unsettle lives and expectations. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
Poems and plays
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1893 | Lady Windermere's Fan A young wife suspects her husband and tests her principles. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1893 | Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act A princess desires a prophet who rejects her. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1894 | A Woman of No Importance A mother’s secret threatens her son’s chance to advance. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | 1899 | An Ideal Husband A politician’s hidden past threatens his marriage and public standing. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | 1899 | The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People Two men’s false identities complicate their plans for marriage. | Play | Free to startRead free |
| 6 | · | Poems, with The Ballad of Reading Gaol Poems of beauty and belief give way to prison suffering. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
Letters and non-fiction
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1891 | Intentions Four essays examine art, criticism, and their relationship to life. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 1905 | De Profundis A writer in prison examines love, blame, and suffering. | Letters | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | 1919 | A Critic in Pall Mall A critic considers books, art, manners and taste. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
| 4 | · | Reviews Book reviews examine literature and the grounds of artistic judgment. | Non-fiction | Free to startRead free |
Read and hear all 15 Oscar Wilde books
eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and printed at cost price as a paperback, hardcover or large print. 5 accounts for the price of one. Free to start.
About Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist born in Dublin. He lived in London and later in France, where he died in Paris. He published The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890. His play The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed in 1895.
- Born
- 1854
- Died
- 1900
- Best known for
- The Picture of Dorian Gray, Poems, with The Ballad of Reading Gaol, The Canterville Ghost
Questions about Oscar Wilde
In what order should I read Oscar Wilde?
Read in order of first publication, oldest first, using the table on this page. Alternatively, begin with the starting picks to sample different moods and lengths before choosing what to read next.
Where do I start with Oscar Wilde?
Start with The Picture of Dorian Gray for a dark story about beauty and wrongdoing. If you want something shorter and more comic, choose The Canterville Ghost; for poetry, try Poems, with The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
What is Oscar Wilde's only novel?
The Picture of Dorian Gray is Wilde's only novel. It follows a man who keeps his youthful beauty while his portrait records his sins, making it a starting point for readers drawn to dark fiction.
Which Oscar Wilde books are the shortest?
By listening time, the shortest are The Canterville Ghost (1 hour and 19 minutes), Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act (1 hour and 28 minutes) and The Happy Prince, and Other Tales (1 hour and 50 minutes).
Can I get Oscar Wilde's books in print?
Yes. Every book here comes as a paperback, hardcover or large print, printed when you order; start free and you pay only the cost of printing. The Canterville Ghost and Lady Windermere's Fan are also free to read.
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