The Importance of Being Earnest
A Trivial Comedy for Serious People
The Importance of Being Earnest, first performed in London in February 1895, is Oscar Wilde's last and most perfect comedy. Jack Worthing is Ernest in town and Jack in the country; his friend Algernon Moncrieff invents a sick friend called Bunbury to escape his engagements. When Jack proposes to Algernon's cousin Gwendolen and Algernon pursues Jack's ward Cecily, both women discover they are engaged to a man named Ernest who does not exist. Lady Bracknell, a handbag, a christening and a three-volume novel of more than usually revolting sentimentality complete the plot. Wilde subtitled it a trivial comedy for serious people, and its epigrams have been quoted ever since. This is the four-act text. 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 The Importance of Being Earnest
The Importance of Being Earnest 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 The Importance of Being Earnest online?
Yes. The Importance of Being Earnest 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 The Importance of Being Earnest free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Importance of Being Earnest 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 The Importance of Being Earnest in the public domain?
Yes. The Importance of Being Earnest 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 The Importance of Being Earnest?
About 1 h 23 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 The Importance of Being Earnest?
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
