"The Importance of Being Earnest" shows a full measure of Oscar Wilde's legendary wit, and embodies more than any of his other plays, his decency and warmth.

This edition contains substantial excerpts from the original four-act version which was never produed, as well as the full test of the final three-act version, selections from Wilde's correspondence, and commentary by George Bernard Shaw, Max Beerbohm, St.

John Hankin, and James Agate.