The Artist as Critic: Critical Writings of Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde

University of Chicago Press, 1982 - Literary Collections - 446 pages

Although known primarily as the irreverent but dazzlingly witty playwright who penned The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde was also an able and farsighted critic. He was an early advocate of criticism as an independent branch of literature and stressed its vital role in the creative process. Scholars continue to debate many of Wilde's critical positions.

Included in Richard Ellmann's impressive collection of Wilde's criticism, The Artist as Critic, is a wide selection of Wilde's book reviews as well as such famous longer works as "The Portrait of Mr. W.H.," "The Soul Man under Socialism," and the four essays which make up Intentions. The Artist as Critic will satisfy any Wilde fan's yearning for an essential reading of his critical work.

"Wilde . . . emerges now as not only brilliant but also revolutionary, one of the great thinkers of dangerous thoughts."—Walter Allen, New York Times Book Review

"The best of Wilde's nonfictional prose can be found in The Artist as Critic."—Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World

Contents

• The Tomb of Keats 1877: 3
• Impressions of America 1883: 6
• Mr Whistlers Ten Oclock 1885: 13
• The Relation of Dress to Art A Note in Black and White on Mr Whistlers Lecture 1885: 17
• Dinners and Dishes 1885: 21
• Half Hours with the Worst Authors 1886: 24
• To Read or Not to Read 1886: 27
• Balzac in English 1886: 29
• Ben Jonson 1886: 33
• Two Biographies of Sir Philip Sidney 1886: 38
• The Poets and the People 1887: 43
• A New Book on Dickens 1887: 46
• A Cheap Edition of a Great Man Rossetti 1887: 49
• The American Invasion 1887: 54
• The American Man 1887: 59
• The Butterflys Boswell 1887: 65
• The Rout of the Royal Academy 1887: 69
• William Morriss Odyssey 1887: 73
• Dostoevskys The lnsulted and Injured 1887: 77
• Mr Mahaffys New Book Greek Life and Thought 1887: 80
• The Poets Corner 1888: 85
• M Caro on George Sand 1888: 86
• Poems by Henley and Sharp 1888: 90
• English Poetesses 1888: 101
• London Models 1889: 109
• Poetry and Prison 1889: 116
• The Gospel According to Walt Whitman 1889: 121
• The New President of the Royal Society of British Artists 1889: 126
• Yeatss Fairy and Folk Tales 1889: 130
• Mr Froudes Blue Book on Ireland 1889: 136
• Ouidas New Novel Guilderoy 1889: 141
• Mr Swinburnes Last Volume 1889: 146
• Yeatss The Wanderings of Oisin 1889: 150
• The Portrait of Mr W H 1921: 152
• A Chinese Sage Confucius 1890: 221
• Mr Paters Last Volume Appreciations: 229
• Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray 1891: 235
• Defense of Dorian Gray letters to the press 1890: 237
• The Soul of Man under Socialism 1891: 255
• Intentions 1891: 290
• Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young 1894: 433
• Oscar Wilde on the Witness Stand 1895: 435

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Artist as Critic: Critical Writings of Oscar Wilde; Phoenix books; Phoenix edition
• Author: Oscar Wilde
• Editor: Richard Ellman
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 1982
• ISBN: 0226897648, 9780226897646
• Length: 446 pages
• Subjects: Literary Collections / Essays; Literary Criticism / Books & Reading; Literary Criticism / General