Customer Reviews

The Duchess of Padua: A Play (Classic Reprint)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I see that one reviewer has done a good job explaining the play, so I wont do that again, just give you my feedback.

1) this is a great edition, if you were wondering

2) you are not likely to see this play as most of Wildes' plays these days that are produced are the well known ones (and nothing wrong with that) so it is very worth reading

3) the play is full of Shakespeare and its a joy to read and clue in to the different Shakespearean undercurrents, like a cultural detective - lots of fun

4) its Oscar Wilde, and if you have not read or see it, you owe it to yourself to do so!

Well recommended!

This is a treasure - often never seen by average audiences, so its a joy to read. It was Wilds first major work put on, but not really discovered until after Lady W's Fan. This is Wilde exploring self-denying - as he was at the time, at least from a public point of view. Many deep emotions are explored here - from love and hatred, revenge and revulsion.

Great cover and great edition, very good for the Wilde fan and collector.

What a joy to discover this play! I was puttering about on Amazon and purchasing a copy of The Importance of Being Earnest for a friend for their birthday, when I found this Wilde play. It's not at all like Earnest, and should not be read like a social comedy, however its genius is still Wilde, clearly.

The major theme is emotions, love, revenge, and hatred - and they are not treated in a funny way, quite the reverse. Still, the dialogue is the gift that we get when we read the Duchess, Wilde's way with words is so impressive, that the play begs to be presented.

But, I'm happy to just read it again, knowing that since the folks who buy tickets to Cats wont be paying to watch The Duchess of Padua and therefore it will not go on.

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People

Light and enchanting read.

Others have discussed the plot, so I'll just tell you how fun it was for me. (Delightful.) Wilde has strong characters, biting language and an easy to follow plot. With the free Kindle price - you have nothing to lose!

In his essays, Wilde defended the highly-colored against the naturalistic schools of art and this play is deliberately highly wrought and melodramatic. If you are familiar with Wilde only from The Importance of Being Earnest or even The Picture of Dorian Gray, you'll doubt that this is the same author. Imagine a classic Italian opera plot written in the most purple prose from The Picture of Dorian Gray and that will get you close.

While Wilde was familiar with the French decadence school and the over-the-top lushness of the fin-du-siecle, he was at heart a moralist, which shows in the plot. This is the main difference between this and the typical revenge tragedies from the Renaissance through the Restoration and dramatically might be considered a weakness, but Wilde's mastery of the style still makes this effective drama as well as an exploration of his lesser-known side.

This play is quite entertaining, short,and written so that you really get to know the characters. The only surprise was the ending....very similar to one of the Shakespeare's.

I guess being of Italian blood makes me too sentimental and that is why I enjoyed this play so much. I am sure people think that love stories are mostly a "dime a dozen" but give me a break! I loved it. I've read other reviews which bring in "Romeo and Juliet", no! This is not Shakespear it's Wilde!!

What is this? Rimbaud or Wilde? Amazon, you need to hire Kindle editors. Put some unemployed English majors to work. Disgraceful.