A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's audacious drama of social scandal centres around the revelation of Mrs Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret. A house party is in full swing at Lady Hunstanton's country home, when it is announced that Gerald Arbuthnot has been appointed secretary to the sophisticated, witty Lord Illingworth. Gerald's mother stands in the way of his appointment, but fears to tell him why, for who will believe Lord Illingworth to be a man of no importance?

Scoundrel gains a son
but only for an evening
he smooched the wrong girl.

Interesting view and very sobering about society at the time Wilde wrote this book.

This was great, trademark Wilde wit throughout but the social commentary had a little more bite than I remember from him.

The fact the ‘villain' is also be the wittiest, most intelligent and charming character was a very nice touch.

Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious. Both are disappointed.

To get into the best society, nowadays, one has either to feed people, amuse people, or shock people. That is all.

When one is in love one begins by deceiving oneself and one ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.

This is one of those typical Oscar Wilde plays, filled with aphorisms in the form of conversations. The story begins with the entire bunch of play's characters gathering together in Lady Hunstanton's garden and the conversations that follow. I have always loved Oscar Wilde's plays its rich prose and the ideas that Wilde expresses in a rather satirical way, through his characters. Every character is interesting. Especially Lord Illingworth and Mrs Allonby.

Set in 1890s, Wilde has attacked the self-righteousness and hypocrisy of upper-class society and how they treat women in the society, in his usual cynical manner. The storyline is basic, however being an Oscar Wilde play, the rich prose and witticisms surely make it worth reading.

Would definitely recommend this one to Oscar Wilde fans!