About this book
Oscar Wilde's *An Ideal Husband* opens at an elegant London dinner party where blackmail, scandal, and secrets threaten to unravel the carefully constructed lives of London's political elite. When the mysterious Mrs. Cheveley confronts Sir Robert Chiltern with knowledge of his past financial transgression, she demands his support for a fraudulent scheme—forcing him into an impossible moral compromise. Yet as his wife Lady Chiltern begins to suspect his sudden change of heart, her own closely guarded secrets loom dangerously close to exposure.
First staged in January 1895, this witty dramatic comedy became an instant sensation, captivating audiences with its razor-sharp dialogue and surprising emotional depth. Wilde masterfully weaves together themes of public honor versus private morality, the evolving role of women in marriage and society, and the often-hypocritical nature of high society. Set across just twenty-four hours, the play explores what Wilde calls the "fine art of living" while asking profound questions about integrity, forgiveness, and redemption.
Brimming with unforgettable epigrams and sophisticated humor, *An Ideal Husband* balances sparkling comedy with genuinely thought-provoking ideas about human nature and social conventions. This timeless comedy remains one of Wilde's most performed and adapted works, perfect for anyone who appreciates clever dialogue, romantic entanglements, and social satire that still resonates today.
