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An Ideal Husband
An Ideal Husband
This comedy revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on public and private honour over the course of a twenty-four hour period.
Book Excerpt
ent to put Lord Goring into a class quite by himself. But he is developing charmingly!
LORD CAVERSHAM. Into what?
MABEL CHILTERN. [With a little curtsey.] I hope to let you know very soon, Lord Caversham!
MASON. [Announcing guests.] Lady Markby. Mrs. Cheveley.
[Enter LADY MARKBY and MRS. CHEVELEY. LADY MARKBY is a pleasant, kindly, popular woman, with gray hair e la marquise and good lace. MRS. CHEVELEY, who accompanies her, is tall and rather slight. Lips very thin and highly-coloured, a line of scarlet on a pallid face. Venetian red hair, aquiline nose, and long throat. Rouge accentuates the natural paleness of her complexion. Gray-green eyes that move restlessly. She is in heliotrope, with diamonds. She looks rather like an orchid, and makes great demands on one's curiosity. In all her movements she is extremely graceful. A work of art, on the whole, but showing the influence of too many schools.]
LADY MARKBY. Good evening, dear Gertrude! So kind of you to let me bring my
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Readers reviews
4.3
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Rather dated, a little sexist and at times slightly tiresome with the concentrated and contrary wit from Lord Goring, who is quite clearly based on Wilde himself. That said, the convoluted plot in so short a play is clearly a work of genius, many lines of dialogue shine and the witticisms brought a few smiles to me over a century later. I preferred Earnest and the Canterville Ghost slightly more, but this is still quite a masterpiece. 4.5/10
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This is a very funny and interesting play. It starts slowly and with too many characters, but the plot develops rapidly. With the exception of a brief bit of philosophy on the proper role of women in society, it would still work with modern audiences.
02/26/2009
very good
04/27/2008