The Importance of Being Earnest

5b, Oscar Wilde. FIRST EDITION.Rebound by Chelsea Bindery. London; 1898.

Notes

The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) is Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated play and a masterpiece of comedic theatre. Subtitled A Trivial Comedy for Serious People, the play satirizes Victorian society's rigid social norms, obsession with appearances, and moral pretensions through witty dialogue, mistaken identities, and absurd situations. Centered around two men who adopt the name "Ernest" to escape social obligations and pursue romance, the play cleverly mocks courtship, marriage, and class. Its brilliant wordplay, paradoxes, and epigrams exemplify Wilde’s unique style, while its farcical plot and sharp social critique have secured its place as a timeless classic in English drama.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish playwright, poet, and wit renowned for his sharp intellect, flamboyant style, and piercing critiques of Victorian society. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Oxford, he became a leading figure in the Aesthetic movement, advocating "art for art's sake." Wilde achieved fame with plays like An Ideal Husband and Lady Windermere’s Fan, and remains widely admired for The Picture of Dorian Gray. His brilliant literary career was cut short by scandal when he was imprisoned for “gross indecency” due to his homosexuality, which was criminalized at the time. Wilde died in exile in Paris, impoverished but immortalized as a symbol of wit, defiance, and artistic freedom.

The Chelsea Bindery is a renowned London-based bookbinding atelier known for producing exquisite fine bindings, often for rare and collectible editions. Located in the Chelsea area, the bindery specializes in traditional craftsmanship—handmade leather bindings, gold tooling, marbled papers, and intricate inlays—drawing on techniques that date back centuries. It is frequently commissioned to rebind important literary works, including first editions by authors like Wilde, in custom-designed, luxurious covers. The Chelsea Bindery has gained a global reputation among collectors, libraries, and bibliophiles for preserving the beauty and physical artistry of the printed book.

Description

Beautifully rebound by Chelsea Bindery, floral end papers, fully intact, navy leather with gold feather embossing, pristine condition.