An ideal husband
An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde's comedy of politics and blackmail, was first staged in London in 1895. Sir Robert Chiltern, an Under-Secretary with a spotless reputation and a wife who worships him, is visited by Mrs. Cheveley, who holds a letter proving that his fortune began with the sale of a cabinet secret. She wants his support for a fraudulent canal scheme; he must choose between his career and his wife's good opinion. The idle Lord Goring, Wilde's spokesman for tolerance, maneuvers between them. Beneath the epigrams the play asks whether anyone can live up to the ideal a lover demands. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about An ideal husband
An ideal husband by Oscar Wilde can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read An ideal husband online?
Yes. An ideal husband opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is An ideal husband free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of An ideal husband is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is An ideal husband in the public domain?
Yes. An ideal husband by Oscar Wilde is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read An ideal husband?
About 2 h 04 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is An ideal husband?
An ideal husband by Oscar Wilde is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
