Customer Reviews

Intentions (Large Print Edition)

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One day this summer I went Wild about Wilde! I think I purchased one copy of each of his works, and have been making my way through them all, (sometimes jumping back and forth), and Intentions is really a wonderful collection of some of his very witty, and very cutting stories. My favorite was 'The Decay of Lying' which is a subject I noticed Wilde writes about in many of his works, like in Dorian Gray.

For some reason, this book is missed but many, and I myself just found it by accident, so do yourself a favor and read it! This is a charming and delightful edition!

And if you want to read about lying in Dorian Gray:

The Picture of Dorian Gray

It has been said that Intentions may be the most important of Oscar Wilde's critical works. Included in it are four essays: "The Decay of Lying," "Pen, Pencil and Poison," "The Critic as Artist," and "The Truth of Masks."

"The Decay of Lying" -- from 1889 -- is an essay couched as a dialogue that Wilde once called it a "trumpet against the gate of dullness." The substance revolves around Wilde's Aestheticism, and he argues (through one character and another) that Art is superior to Nature. . . .

"Pen, Pencil and Poison" -- from 1889 -- is a biographical essay on the notorious writer, murderer, and forger Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, who used the pen name "Janus Weathercock," and here Wilde puts forward the notion that that Wainewright's criminality reveals the soul of a true artist.

In "The Critic as Artist," -- 1890 -- The Wilde's contends that critics must reach beyond the creative work that he considers.

"The Truth of Masks" (1885) is an argumentative response to an article of Edward George Bulwer-Lytton's which put forward the notion that Shakespeare had little interest in the costumes that his characters wore.

Brilliant and (as always) so well put, Wilde is a joy to read - food for the mind and soul. This is a nice well put together edition - all Wilde lovers well want.

First, this is a lovely edition and well worth the money, and it arrived right on time, actually faster than I expected.

Second, the book.

Not just a wit, Wilde was an intellectual power house. You don't have to agree with him on everything, just enjoy his ability to make his own argument. In "Pen, Pencil and Poison", read how Wilde playfully argues the question, 'is a criminal an artist?' Fascinating!

Superior book, lots of wit and it will stretch your mind.

During a timid spring day inside a small library somewhere in Nottinghamshire, there is an ongoing debate about the philosophical meaning of Art.

Cyril is a cultured man a lover of art it seems that he lives inside a painting , he usually describe in detail what there is around him entranced by the beautiful of the nature.

Vivian on the contrary is a girl of essence; her vision of the world is characterized by cause and effect, everything is well organized, by the mother nature.

Her philosophy is those of a world in decadence where every behavior is dictated by our selfishness rather than appreciation of things.

In the first pages of this short story, there is an interesting debate in telling that nature and visual art are two different and incompatible entities, in the sense that a paintings is nothing else that the perception of the artist.

A painting is nothing else the visual preferences of the artist that does not represent the image or better the intrinsic message of the observer.

Vivian is writing an interesting article "The Decay of Lying" for a prestigious and intellectual magazine.

Her personal consideration of the visual art has not a positive valence, because according to her thought a painting is nothing else that a personal projection of a particular detail, chose by the artist, without considering its complex context.

This does not happen regarding the novels as a tool for analyzing people under different and variegate point of views, with a risk of nullify supported by her phrase;

"The more one analyses people, the more all reasons for analysis disappear"

The essence of this phrase is the description of a complex and interconnected world, where everything must be defined in detail like a surgeon.

In my opinion for her the art is a sort of metaphor of the modern world that is going to in the wrong direction, for instance the art under the metaphysical prospective is a sort of Darwinism where the main risk is for the next generations which will be based on the art to judge their present.

The main reason is that the "Art never express anything but itself" in brief the art will influence the realism giving a negative social model, the art does not represent what the artists see but they depict the ideology of the commitment.

Cheers

Italo

Intentions by Oscar Wilde. The Decay of Lying, Pen, Pencil And Poison, The Critic As Artist & The Truth of Masks. Published by MobileReference (mobi).

Oscar Wilde was born in 1854 in Dublin, Ireland and his name has become synonymous with decadence from that era. Wilde's outlook on life comes through loud and clear in his works. Essential for those who want to enjoy literature while allowing it to expand the mind.

Its hard to put into word the beauty and wonder and humor of these for stories.

For the real follower of Wilde!

Wilde's work must be in the public domain--this is one of those sloppy, cheap editions put out by a publisher whose only address is a website. I thought I'd made certain this was not the case when I ordered it, but obviously was in too big a hurry and did not. It does provide Wilde's text--with typos and everything left-justified. It's cheap and the typos are occasional, but I wish I'd invested the extra money in an edition produced with care.

The delivery of the book was prompt, yes, but... once I had this book in my hands I realized- to my anxiety- that the book was VERY old. I am actually a bit worried to read it in fear that it will fall apart. Don't get me wrong, it looks like it has been well kept and taken care of, but i just wish it had been been printed earlier than circa 1925.