Although Oscar Wilde created a wide range of poetry essays and fairy tales (and one novel) in his brief tragic life he is perhaps best known as a dramatist. His witty clever drama populated by brilliant talkers skilled in the art of riposte and paradox are still staples of the theatrical repertoire.

An Ideal Husband revolves around a blackmail scheme that forces a married couple to reexamine their moral standards providing along the way a wry commentary on the rarity of politicians who can claim to be ethically pure. A supporting cast of young lovers society matrons an overbearing father and a formidable femme fatale continually exchange sparkling repartee keeping the play moving at a lively pace.

Like most of Wilde's plays this scintillating drawing-room comedy is wise well-constructed and deeply satisfying. An instant success at its 1895 debut the play continues to delight audiences over one hundred years later. An Ideal Husband is a must-read for Wilde fans students of English literature and anyone delighted by wit urbanity and timeless sophistication.