IntentionsOriginally published in 1891 when Wilde was at the height of his form, these brilliant essays on art, literature, criticism, and society display the flamboyant poseur's famous wit and wide learning. A leading spokesman for the English Aesthetic movement, Wilde promoted "art for art's sake" against critics who argued that art must serve a moral purpose. On every page of this collection the gifted literary stylist admirably demonstrates not only that the characteristics of art are "distinction, charm, beauty, and imaginative power," but also that criticism itself can be raised to an art form possessing these very qualities.In the opening essay, Wilde laments the "decay of Lying as an art, a science, and a social pleasure." He takes to task modern literary realists like Henry James and Emile Zola for their "monstrous worship of facts" and stifling of the imagination. What makes art wonderful, he says, is that it is "absolutely indifferent to fact, [art] invents, imagines, dreams, and keeps between herself and reality the impenetrable barrier of beautiful style, of decorative or ideal treatment."The next essay, "Pen, Pencil, and Poison," is a fascinating literary appreciation of the life of Thomas Griffiths Wainewright, a talented painter, art critic, antiquarian, friend of Charles Lamb, and - murderer.The heart of the collection is the long two-part essay titled "The Critic as Artist." In one memorable passage after another, Wilde goes to great lengths to show that the critic is every bit as much an artist as the artist himself, in some cases more so. A good critic is like a virtuoso interpreter: "When Rubinstein plays ... he gives us not merely Beethoven, but also himself, and so gives us Beethoven absolutely...made vivid and wonderful to us by a new and intense personality. When a great actor plays Shakespeare we have the same experience."Finally, in "The Truth of Masks," Wilde returns to the theme of art as artifice and creative deception. This essay focuses on the use of masks, disguises, and costume in Shakespeare.For newcomers to Wilde and those who already know his famous plays and fiction, this superb collection of his criticism offers many delights. |
From inside the book
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Page 3
... exquisite . There is a mist upon the woods , like the purple bloom upon a plum . Let us go and lie on the grass , and smoke cigarettes , and enjoy Nature . Vivian . Enjoy Nature ! I am glad to say that I have entirely lost that faculty ...
... exquisite . There is a mist upon the woods , like the purple bloom upon a plum . Let us go and lie on the grass , and smoke cigarettes , and enjoy Nature . Vivian . Enjoy Nature ! I am glad to say that I have entirely lost that faculty ...
Page 34
... exquisite Monets and entrancing Pisaros . Indeed there are moments , rare , it is true , but still to be observed from time to time , when Nature becomes absolutely modern . Of course she is not always to be relied upon . The fact is ...
... exquisite Monets and entrancing Pisaros . Indeed there are moments , rare , it is true , but still to be observed from time to time , when Nature becomes absolutely modern . Of course she is not always to be relied upon . The fact is ...
Page 38
... exquisite fancy of art . And so , if you desire to see a Japanese effect , you will not behave like a tourist and go to Tokio . On the contrary , you will stay at home , and steep your- self in the work of certain Japanese artists , and ...
... exquisite fancy of art . And so , if you desire to see a Japanese effect , you will not behave like a tourist and go to Tokio . On the contrary , you will stay at home , and steep your- self in the work of certain Japanese artists , and ...
Page 41
... exquisite odes . Later on , what at first had been merely a natural instinct was elevated into a self- conscious science . Elaborate rules were laid down for the guidance of mankind , and an important school of literature grew up round ...
... exquisite odes . Later on , what at first had been merely a natural instinct was elevated into a self- conscious science . Elaborate rules were laid down for the guidance of mankind , and an important school of literature grew up round ...
Page 53
... exquisite white hands gave him the dangerous and delightful distinction of being different from others . There was something in him of Balzac's Lucien de Rubempré . At times he reminds us of Julien Sorel . De Quincey saw him once . It ...
... exquisite white hands gave him the dangerous and delightful distinction of being different from others . There was something in him of Balzac's Lucien de Rubempré . At times he reminds us of Julien Sorel . De Quincey saw him once . It ...
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Common terms and phrases
absolutely admirable æsthetic æsthetic critic archæology art-critics Author beauty become century charm colour costume creation creative critical spirit culture curious Cyril dear DECAY OF LYING delightful dramatic dreams dress effect emotional England English Library Ernest everything exquisite eyes fact faculty fancy fascinated feel fiction FLORENCE MARRYAT France Gilbert give Greek HALL CAINE Hamlet HELEN MATHERS ideal imaginative imitative instinct intellectual invented J. M. BARRIE literary literature live London look LUCAS MALET Lying MAARTEN MARGARET DELAND marvellous means merely method mode modern mood moral Nature never novel OSCAR WILDE painted painter passion perfect play pleasure poet poetry poison prose purely R. L. STEVENSON realism realize RIDER HAGGARD romance RUDYARD KIPLING secret seems sense Shakespeare simply soul sphere story strange style subtle talk tells thing thought tragedy true truth Vivian W. D. HOWELLS Wainewright weary wonder writing