Oscar Wilde Plays books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Oscar Wilde Plays series?"

"There are 8 books in the Oscar Wilde Plays series, published in 2004."

Q: "What is the first book in the Oscar Wilde Plays series?"

"The first book in the Oscar Wilde Plays series is Selected Plays, published in 2004."

Q: "Which Oscar Wilde play should I read first?"

"The Importance of Being Earnest is the best starting point. It's Wilde's funniest and most famous play, a farce about two men who invent fictional identities to escape social obligations. Nearly every line is quotable. After that, An Ideal Husband and Lady Windermere's Fan are both excellent."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Vera or the Nihilists	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
2	The Duchess of Padua	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
3	Salomé	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
4	Lady Windermere’s Fan	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
5	An Ideal Husband	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
6	A Woman of No Importance	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
7	The Importance of Being Earnest	TBD	Oscar Wilde	Buy
8	Selected Plays	2004	Oscar Wilde	Buy

Oscar Wilde’s plays made him the most successful dramatist in London during the early 1890s. The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) is a perfect farce, built on mistaken identities, invented relatives, and some of the sharpest dialogue ever written for the stage. It’s performed constantly and has never dated.

Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) and An Ideal Husband (1895) are comedies of manners with more serious undercurrents, dealing with reputation, blackmail, and the gap between public virtue and private behavior. A Woman of No Importance (1893) explores similar territory. Salome, written in French, is a darker work based on the biblical story of John the Baptist’s execution, and was banned in England during Wilde’s lifetime. His early plays Vera and The Duchess of Padua are less frequently performed but show the range of his ambition.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Oscar Wilde Plays series?

There are 8 books in the Oscar Wilde Plays series, published in 2004.

What is the first book in the Oscar Wilde Plays series?

The first book in the Oscar Wilde Plays series is Selected Plays, published in 2004.

Which Oscar Wilde play should I read first?

The Importance of Being Earnest is the best starting point. It’s Wilde’s funniest and most famous play, a farce about two men who invent fictional identities to escape social obligations. Nearly every line is quotable. After that, An Ideal Husband and Lady Windermere’s Fan are both excellent.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order