The Soul of Man Under Socialism and Selected Critical Prose (Penguin Classics)

Illuminating essays on philsophy, literature, soceity, and art by one of Ireland's greatest wits

Oscar Wildewitty raconteur, flamboyant hedonist, and self-destructive loveris most familiar as the author of brilliant comedies, including The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, and the decadent novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. This selection of critical writings reveals a different side of the great writerthe deep and serious reader of literature and philosophy, and the eloquent and original thinker about society and art. This illuminating collection includes The Portrait of Mr. W. H., In Defense of Dorian Gray, reviews, and the writings from Intentions(1891), including The Decay of Lying, Pen, Pencil, Poison, and The Critic as Artist.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust theseries to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-datetranslations by award-winning translators.