“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

This iconic line from The Importance of Being Earnest perhaps best sums up the spirit of this play, written by Oscar Wilde. The farcical comedy is a satire on the hypocrisy of late 19th-century Victorian society. Performed in 1895 at the St James’s Theatre, in London, and published in 1899, the play has long been considered to be Wilde’s most famous work as a playwright.

Widely appreciated by readers of all ages, the witty masterpiece is centered on the themes of marriage, social expectations, class and the lifestyle in Victorian society. The play portrays the events in the lives of two men – Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff – who use deception to bend the truth to seek thrill in their lives.

Known as the first-of-its-kind modern comedy in England, the play is regarded for its witty dialogues and eccentric characters. Counted among the best of satirical comedies, The Importance of Being Earnest continues to delight readers with its comical yet snappy banter that brings out the absurdity of human behaviour.