The Importance of Being Earnest cover

The Importance of Being Earnest

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Original en 20574 words First published 1895 United Kingdom

Oscar Wilde's 1895 comedy, dashed off at Worthing in 1894 and still the wittiest stage play in English. Jack Worthing has invented a wicked brother named Ernest so that he can leave his country estates for London; Algernon Moncrieff has invented an invalid friend named Bunbury, and himself a nephew named Ernest, for the same purpose. Two young women are in love with the name, Lady Bracknell is in love with nothing but "a handbag", and Miss Prism has mislaid a novel and a baby. Farce about nothing, performed with total seriousness.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

Table of Contents

  1. 001 FIRST ACT SCENE Morning-room in Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon Street. 2524 words
  2. 002 JACK. I’m not a Bunburyist at all. If Gwendolen accepts me, I am… 2522 words
  3. 003 JACK. I have a country house with some land, of course, attached to… 2524 words
  4. 004 CECILY. I suppose that is why he often looks a little bored when we… 2509 words
  5. 005 CHASUBLE. Admirably! Admirably! [Takes out watch.] And now, dear Mr.… 2518 words
  6. 006 [Enter Merriman.] MERRIMAN. 2539 words
  7. 007 ALGERNON. Your brother is a little off colour, isn’t he, dear Jack?… 2524 words
  8. 008 ALGERNON. Yes, Aunt Augusta! LADY BRACKNELL. There are distinct… 2512 words
  9. 009 JACK. Then I was christened! That is settled. Now, what name was I… 402 words