{"product_id":"the-importance-of-being-earnest-royal-collectors-edition-case-laminate-hardcover-with-jacket-9781774762479","title":"The Importance of Being Earnest (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Importance of Being Earnest\u003c\/em\u003e is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious person  to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Contemporary reviews all praised the play's humour, while others foresaw the modern consensus that it was the culmination of Wilde's artistic career so far. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make \u003cem\u003eThe Importance of Being Earnest\u003c\/em\u003e Wilde's most enduringly popular play.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWilde, Oscar:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - In contrast to much theatre of the time, The Importance of Being Earnest's light plot does not tackle serious social and political issues, something of which contemporary reviewers were wary. Though unsure of Wilde's seriousness as a dramatist, they recognized the play's cleverness, humour and popularity with audiences. Bernard Shaw, for example, reviewed the play in the Saturday Review, arguing that comedy should touch as well as amuse, I go to the theatre to be moved to laughter. Later in a letter he said, the play, though extremely funny, was Wilde's first really heartless one. In The World, William Archer wrote that he had enjoyed watching the play but found it to be empty of meaning, What can a poor critic do with a play which raises no principle, whether of art or morals, creates its own canons and conventions, and is nothing but an absolutely wilful expression of an irrepressibly witty personality?","brand":"Royal Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50529317028114,"sku":"9781774762479","price":36.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_2a39a9d8-7780-4bfc-9b64-dd00d46b4f3e.jpg?v=1731344584","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-importance-of-being-earnest-royal-collectors-edition-case-laminate-hardcover-with-jacket-9781774762479","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}