Oscar Wilde

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. The Happy Prince, a Starter level Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Starter level is ideal for readers who are learning English for the first time. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, using the present simple and continuous tenses, possessives, regular and irregular verbs, and simple adjectives. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels. In an old town in England, there is a statue of a happy prince. But the prince is not happy. He can see the sad things in the town. Then he meets a swallow. They help the people. Visit the Penguin Readers websiteExclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is written by Oscar Wilde and is based on one innocent, eventual downfall, and moral corruption of a young man's seduction. The story begins in the studio of painter Basil Hallward with his friend Lord Henry. Basil confides to Henry that he is working on a portrait of Dorian Gray, who had an extraordinary influence on him. Basil Hallward's portrait of Dorian Gray is admired by Lord Henry Wotton, but Dorian has an extreme response to the portrait, wishing he could trade with it. In between the story of this portrait creation, Dorian begins to seek every experience of life and falls in love with Sybil Vane, a beautiful young actress who embodies Shakespeare's heroines. However, Sybil is in love with her 'Prince Charming' and is determined to marry him. Dorian becomes obsessed with his portrait, leading to his murder of Basil and the destruction of the painting. Dorian killed Basil in frustration but why and then what happened to Sybil? Did she marry Dorian? To know the complete story readers should read The Picture of Dorian Gray

""The Canterville Ghost"" is a humorous short story by Oscar Wilde. An American family named Otis moves into an old English mansion called Canterville chase. The owner, Lord Canterville, warns Mr. Otis about the house being haunted. But that does not deter the family, who do not believe in ghosts. But when the notorious Canterville Ghost makes his appearance, the family is not afraid at all. In a role reversal, the ghost is scared after scaring people for more than three hundred years. The ghost considers it a great insult that the American family is not scared of him. He hates them all, except the teenaged Virginia, who is different from the rest of her family. Virginia encounters the ghost at the end of the novel, and accepts his plea for help to lift the curse on him. At the risk of her own life, Virginia travels with the ghost to another dimension, and helps him to finally rest in peace.

Oscar Wilde, with his legendary works of literature is a delight to read at all times. This iconic drama is a series of events and characters all caught up and wound in their own situations. It is only in the series of these complex situations that layers of human behaviours are revealed making it interesting and at the same time making the character vulnerable to the situations they have got themselves into. The unfurling of events leads to many important discoveries and realizations and the lesson that is learnt stands the test of time, which is "The Importance of Being Earnest". An enjoyable read for every book lover

This story by Oscar Wilde was published for the first time in May 1888. The happy prince summary throws light on the society full of injustice and inequality. Moreover, people give importance to superficial beauty and a life full of luxury and escapism. Furthermore, they lack compassion for each other. It also reflects the ridiculous behavior of Mayor and Councilors. People have no worth for the sacrifice made by others.

Dorian Gray är enastående vacker och blir avbildad på ett porträtt. När konstnären visar porträttet för sin cyniske vän lord Henry, säger Henry att Dorians skönhet snart kommer att vara förbi. Då önskar Dorian att han ska få vara evigt ung, och att porträttet ska åldras i hans ställe …Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) är i dag kanske mest känd för Dorian Grays porträtt, romanen om en ung man som säljer sin själ för att få evig ungdom. När den först publicerades 1890 ansågs den vara djupt omoralisk och fick ta emot hård kritik. Det var först flera år senare som texten kom att uppskattas för sin tidlösa diskussion om konsten, livet och moralen. Under sin levnadstid var Wilde mest känd för sina pjäser, men han publicerade också en rad dikter, essäer och noveller. År 1895 dömdes Wilde till två års fängelse för homosexualitet. Hans pjäser lades ner, hans böcker bojkottades, och efter fängelsetiden dog han ensam och utfattig, på Hôtel d’Alsace i Paris. ”En av världslitteraturens klassiker har här fått ett enklare språk och anpassats till dagens svenska med bra resultat. (…) Boken kan exempelvis användas i svenskundervisningen, men är även ett bra sätt för den lässvage eller den med ont om tid att få koll på en klassiker.” Mia Mårtensson, BTJ, En julsaga

Intentions is a groundbreaking work of criticism, in four parts, by the inimitable Oscar Wilde. Throughout each of the four parts, Wilde advocates for originality. For Wilde, all virtues are subservient to Art. ...

Intentions is a groundbreaking work of criticism, in four parts, by the inimitable Oscar Wilde. Throughout each of the four parts, Wilde advocates for originality. For Wilde, all virtues are subservient to Art. ...

In this comedy Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing live in Victorian England. Worthing resides in the country and travels to London every now and then for pleasure. Every time he does so, he tells those around him that he is taking care of his irresponsible brother Ernst. But it is he who pretends to be Ernst in London in order to pursue his pleasure undetected. Moncrieff is a London aristocrat who from time to time escapes from London society by pretending to visit his sick friend Bunbury in the country, who, however, is also an invention. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

It is probably one of the best-known and most influential works of world literature. The Picture of Dorian Gray is still required reading for schoolchildren around the globe, has been the subject of countless film and theater adaptations and, incidentally, is a frequently quoted metaphor: the young and extremely handsome Dorian, who is increasingly rotting and degenerating inside. His increasingly unloved point of reflection is a painting that ages in his place as Dorian makes a pact with evil to preserve eternal youth. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

High above a city on a slender column stands the statue of the happy prince. She is covered with gold leaf, her eyes are sapphires. During his lifetime, the Happy Prince was admired by all people because he was always cheerful. Now, as a statue, he notices the misery of the city. When a little swallow on its way to Egypt settles down at the feet of the prince to sleep, a tear from the eye of the happy prince hits it. The prince tells the swallow about a poor seamstress whose son is sick, and asks her to bring the mother a ruby to help her.... Gr ls Classics - English Edition

In this comedy Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing live in Victorian England. Worthing resides in the country and travels to London every now and then for pleasure. Every time he does so, he tells those around him that he is taking care of his irresponsible brother Ernst. But it is he who pretends to be Ernst in London in order to pursue his pleasure undetected. Moncrieff is a London aristocrat who from time to time escapes from London society by pretending to visit his sick friend Bunbury in the country, who, however, is also an invention. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

It is probably one of the best-known and most influential works of world literature. The Picture of Dorian Gray is still required reading for schoolchildren around the globe, has been the subject of countless film and theater adaptations and, incidentally, is a frequently quoted metaphor: the young and extremely handsome Dorian, who is increasingly rotting and degenerating inside. His increasingly unloved point of reflection is a painting that ages in his place as Dorian makes a pact with evil to preserve eternal youth. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

High above a city on a slender column stands the statue of the happy prince. She is covered with gold leaf, her eyes are sapphires. During his lifetime, the Happy Prince was admired by all people because he was always cheerful. Now, as a statue, he notices the misery of the city. When a little swallow on its way to Egypt settles down at the feet of the prince to sleep, a tear from the eye of the happy prince hits it. The prince tells the swallow about a poor seamstress whose son is sick, and asks her to bring the mother a ruby to help her.... Gr ls Classics - English Edition

De Profundis (Latin: "from the depths") is a 50,000 word letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol, to Lord Alfred Douglas, his lover. Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897; he was not allowed to send it, but took it with him upon release. In it he repudiates Lord Alfred for what Wilde finally sees as his arrogance and vanity; he had not forgotten Douglas's remark, when he was ill, "When you are not on your pedestal you are not interesting." He also felt redemption and fulfillment in his ordeal, realizing that his hardship had filled the soul with the fruit of experience, however bitter it tasted at the time.

In his four-act play An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde explores the concepts of public and private honor while revolving around political corruption and blackmail. It was first presented in 1895 and lasted for 124 performances at the Haymarket Theatre in London. It has seen numerous theatrical revivals and film, radio, and television adaptations. Oscar Wilde started writing An Ideal Husband for the actor-manager John Hare in June 1893, as his second drawing room play, A Woman of No Importance, was enjoying popularity at the Haymarket Theatre. He finished the play's first act while residing in a home he had rented in Goring-on-Thames, and he gave the play's main character that name. He wrote the final three acts between September 1893 and January 1894. Hare rejected the play because he thought the final act was inadequate. Wilde then offered the piece to Lewis Waller, who was going to temporarily take over management of the Haymarket Theater while Herbert Beerbohm Tree was away in America. Waller accepted. The play, which was touted as "A new and original play of modern life," began rehearsing in December 1894 and premiered on January 3, 1895.