
The Importance of Being Earnest
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Narrated by:
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James Reynolds
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By:
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Oscar Wilde
About this listen
The Importance of Being Earnest: A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on February 14, 1895, at the St James' Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious persona 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.
Some contemporary reviews praised the play's humor and the culmination of Wilde's artistic career, while others were cautious about its lack of social messages. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde's most enduringly popular play.
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: Oscar Wilde
This fun classic made me chuckle a I listened.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by James Reynolds.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Earnestly Entertaining
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It tells the story of two young Lords, neither of them name Earnest, and their attempts to get two young ladies to marry them, both of whom decide they want to marry someone named Earnest. Both men have secret 'second lives' that they use to escape their normal life, causing confusion to each other and the ladies, and setting in motion a whole of of lies and mistaken identities. Through the play they learn the double meaning of the importance of being earnest (truthful) and of being named Earnest.
James Reynolds persofrms the play well - as well as you could expect from a single person doing a multipart play. He separates the characters, so it is easy to follow who is speaking and what is going on. while it's clear it's not multiple actors, he does characters well enough that it's a reasonable facsimile. He (almost) always hits the right timing for the humour. It is a really good recording of the play, and as I've already stated its a play everyone should know, this is a good way to hear it.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this review voluntarily.
One of the greatest comedic plays of all time
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The reader was always clear and adopted exaggerated voices very well suited to the caricatured archetypes and ridiculous roles he was reading for, making the silliness all the more enjoyable.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Simply sumptuous satire
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I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Exhaustingly witty and pun-ny
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I absolutely love this play, it's wonderful and infinitely quotable. It's guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, every moment of the dialogue is so witty. I highly recommend the audiobook! I requested a copy, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
It's Just A Lot Of Fun!
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classic with narration that breathes life to it
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This Audio Book gives a brief glimpse into the great talent of the Author and why the work is still being produced today.
The Narrator helped make the Audio Book a entertaining experience.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
A classic satire
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The Importance of being Earnest
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plenty of smiles, raised eyebrows and laughs even after120 years of Wilde.
fanciful, farceabke
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Oscar Wilde
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