Paperback, 103 pages
English language
Published July 30, 2006 by Nick Hern Books.
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?
A sample of the text:
Lady Caroline.
You have no country houses, I am told, in America?
Hester.
We have not many.
Lady Caroline.
Have you any country? What we should call country?
Hester.
[Smiling.] We have the largest country in the world, Lady Caroline. They used to tell us at school that some of our states are as big as France and England put together.
Lady Caroline.
Ah! you must find it very draughty, I should fancy.
