The Artist as Critic: Critical Writings of Oscar Wilde [Paperback]

Oscar Wilde (Author), Richard Ellman (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0226897648 | ISBN-13: 978-0226897646 | Publication Date: January 1, 1982

Although known primarily as the irreverent but dazzlingly witty playwright who penned The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde was also an able and farsighted critic. He was an early advocate of criticism as an independent branch of literature and stressed its vital role in the creative process. Scholars continue to debate many of Wilde's critical positions.

Included in Richard Ellmann's impressive collection of Wilde's criticism, The Artist as Critic, is a wide selection of Wilde's book reviews as well as such famous longer works as "The Portrait of Mr. W.H.," "The Soul Man under Socialism," and the four essays which make up Intentions. The Artist as Critic will satisfy any Wilde fan's yearning for an essential reading of his critical work.

"Wilde . . . emerges now as not only brilliant but also revolutionary, one of the great thinkers of dangerous thoughts."—Walter Allen, New York Times Book Review

"The best of Wilde's nonfictional prose can be found in The Artist as Critic."—Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World

Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (January 1, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226897648
• ISBN-13: 978-0226897646
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WITH WILDE IMPRISONED OUR CULTURE WILTED AND DIED TOO YOUNG, August 3, 2006

By 

C. Scanlon "least helpful reviewer" (among us humans) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Artist as Critic: Critical Writings of Oscar Wilde (Paperback)

This extensive (nearly five hundred page) collection of Mr. Wilde's critical writings provides much food for thought regarding the nature of literacy, and valuably more than makes up for the slight expense of its price. The penultimate piece of sayings and philosophies for the young alone happily repays abundantly any investment of time and money.

Wilde, like Poe, is lesser known for his criticism and aesthetic philosophies, yet both in their prime wrote extensively, reviewing other writers and their art form.

The preface to Dorian Gray, here included reads in places like classical haiku about writing. Wilde cleverly and clearly presents his thoughts concerning the nature of reality, of art, and his mirroring reality through art in order to aid us to see and to believe and to understand and to learn and to live in this reality in which we discover ourselves. He shows us how to discover ourselves, and to live with knowledge, wisdom and intelligence.

This is why the Empire imprisoned silenced and ultimately broke him. He saw and reported too truly through his wonderful plays and writings and epigrams the corrupt nature of the Empire and dared speak truth to power.