What do you think?
Rate this book
丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳
A melodramatic tragedy set in Russia, Vera, or the Nihilists is loosely based on the story of Vera Zasulich. It was the first play that Wilde wrote. It features Russian revolutionaries who seek to assassinate a reform-minded Emperor (and who, in the play, ultimately fail in their plot). Though Wilde's fictional Emperor differs from the actual Alexander, contemporary events in Russia 鈥� as published in the British press of the time 鈥� clearly influenced Wilde.
220 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 1883
45 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Oscar Wilde
5,664听books37.7k听followersOscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and his criminal conviction for gross indecency for homosexual acts.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Wilde's parents were Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. In his youth, Wilde learned to speak fluent French and German. At university, he read Greats; he demonstrated himself to be an exceptional classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the emerging philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles.
Wilde tried his hand at various literary activities: he wrote a play, published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on "The English Renaissance" in art and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he lectured on his American travels and wrote reviews for various periodicals. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Wilde returned to drama, writing Salome (1891) in French while in Paris, but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Undiscouraged, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London.
At the height of his fame and success, while An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) were still being performed in London, Wilde issued a civil writ against John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel hearings unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and criminal prosecution for gross indecency with other males. The jury was unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was ordered. In the second trial Wilde was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in abridged form in 1905), a long letter that discusses his spiritual journey through his trials and is a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On the day of his release, he caught the overnight steamer to France, never to return to Britain or Ireland. In France and Italy, he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
May 22, 2020
"隆Vera, la nihilista, en Mosc煤! 隆Dios m铆o! 驴No ser铆a mejor morir enseguida como un perro, como quieren hacerme perecer, que llevar la vida que llevo?"
Oscar Wilde escribi贸 "Vera, o los nihilistas" en 1882 y fue la primera obra de teatro suya que se represent贸 en Inglaterra aunque con poco 茅xito. Si bien, la respuesta del p煤blico repunt贸 un poco con "Salome", no fueron las tragedias las que elevaron la reputaci贸n de Wilde como dramaturgo sino sus comedias, las cuales, dado el rutilante 茅xito que ten铆an, llevaban a los empresarios a representarlas en tres teatros a la vez, con las salas colmadas de p煤blico.
Este obra de teatro contiene todos los elementos heroicos que uno puede atribuirle a un drama, con un innegable tinte shakesperiano en aquellas escenas que Vera, los nihilistas, el zar茅vich Alexis y los conspiradores del zar tienen participaci贸n.
La lucha de Vera por liberar al pueblo ruso del yugo tir谩nico del zar, padre de Alexis la motiva a intentar derrocar el gobierno, pero en medio de todo esto se encuentra Alexis, de quien ella est谩 enamorada.
De esta manera, se desarrollar谩n todos los juegos de pasiones y traiciones posibles, dotando a la obra de un dinamismo constante que se detiene justo en el final, tambi茅n digno de William Shakespeare.
La obra es relativamente corta y puede leerse en menos de dos horas y como est谩 escrita por Oscar Wilde es buena idea leer este libro en un d铆a lluvioso con una buena taza de t茅 o caf茅 en la otra mano.
Oscar Wilde escribi贸 "Vera, o los nihilistas" en 1882 y fue la primera obra de teatro suya que se represent贸 en Inglaterra aunque con poco 茅xito. Si bien, la respuesta del p煤blico repunt贸 un poco con "Salome", no fueron las tragedias las que elevaron la reputaci贸n de Wilde como dramaturgo sino sus comedias, las cuales, dado el rutilante 茅xito que ten铆an, llevaban a los empresarios a representarlas en tres teatros a la vez, con las salas colmadas de p煤blico.
Este obra de teatro contiene todos los elementos heroicos que uno puede atribuirle a un drama, con un innegable tinte shakesperiano en aquellas escenas que Vera, los nihilistas, el zar茅vich Alexis y los conspiradores del zar tienen participaci贸n.
La lucha de Vera por liberar al pueblo ruso del yugo tir谩nico del zar, padre de Alexis la motiva a intentar derrocar el gobierno, pero en medio de todo esto se encuentra Alexis, de quien ella est谩 enamorada.
De esta manera, se desarrollar谩n todos los juegos de pasiones y traiciones posibles, dotando a la obra de un dinamismo constante que se detiene justo en el final, tambi茅n digno de William Shakespeare.
La obra es relativamente corta y puede leerse en menos de dos horas y como est谩 escrita por Oscar Wilde es buena idea leer este libro en un d铆a lluvioso con una buena taza de t茅 o caf茅 en la otra mano.
April 16, 2019
2.5 stars. It was good up until the end where it was a abrupt and confusing. I liked the historical element of the play with Russia鈥檚 history and was overall a quick, pretty easy read.
April 2, 2019
鬲賯賵賲 亘乇賵爻賷丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 孬賵乇賷丞 囟丿 丕賱賯賷氐乇 .. 賱廿賳賴丕亍 丕賱丨賰賲 丕賱賲賱賰賷 .. 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱孬賵丕乇 賮賷乇丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳囟賲 賱賴賲
亘毓丿 賳賮賷 兀禺賷賴丕 賱爻賷亘賷乇賷丕
丕賱賲噩賲賵毓丞 鬲禺胤胤 賱賯鬲賱 丕賱賯賷氐乇 .. 賵丕亘賳 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱孬賵丕乇 賵廿賳 賰丕賳 賵噩賵丿賴 丿賮毓 亘毓囟 丕賱孬賵丕乇 賱賱卮賰
亘賰賵賳賴 噩丕爻賵爻丕
鬲賲囟賷 丕賱鬲禺胤賷胤丕鬲 賵丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓丕鬲 丨鬲賶 賱丨馗丞 丕賱鬲賳賮賷匕 .. 亘丨賷孬 鬲賳鬲賴賷 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 賳賴丕賷丞 氐丕丿賲丞
馗賱賲 丕賱丨丕賰賲 丿丕卅賲丕 賲丕 賷丐丿賷 賱馗賴賵乇 賮卅丞 鬲毓丕乇囟賴 .. 賲毓 丕賱賵賯鬲 鬲賱賰 丕賱賮卅丞 鬲乇鬲賰亘 賲賳 丕賱卮乇賵乇 賵丕賱馗賱賲 賲丕 賷賵丕夭賷
丕賱丨賰賲 丕賱匕賷 孬丕乇鬲 毓賱賷賴 .. 賷氐亘丨 賰賱 賲禺丕賱賮 賱乇兀賷賴丕 毓丿賵丕 賷爻鬲丨賯 丕賱賯鬲賱
賵賴匕丕 賲丕 丨丕賵賱 兀賵爻賰丕乇 廿賷氐丕賱賴 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞
..丨鬲賶 丕賱氐丕賱丨 賯丿 賷賳丨乇賮 毓賳 賲爻賷乇賴 賵賷爻賱賰 胤乇賷賯丕 賲馗賱賲丕 賵丿賲賵賷丕
亘毓丿 賳賮賷 兀禺賷賴丕 賱爻賷亘賷乇賷丕
丕賱賲噩賲賵毓丞 鬲禺胤胤 賱賯鬲賱 丕賱賯賷氐乇 .. 賵丕亘賳 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賲賳 亘賷賳 丕賱孬賵丕乇 賵廿賳 賰丕賳 賵噩賵丿賴 丿賮毓 亘毓囟 丕賱孬賵丕乇 賱賱卮賰
亘賰賵賳賴 噩丕爻賵爻丕
鬲賲囟賷 丕賱鬲禺胤賷胤丕鬲 賵丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓丕鬲 丨鬲賶 賱丨馗丞 丕賱鬲賳賮賷匕 .. 亘丨賷孬 鬲賳鬲賴賷 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 賳賴丕賷丞 氐丕丿賲丞
馗賱賲 丕賱丨丕賰賲 丿丕卅賲丕 賲丕 賷丐丿賷 賱馗賴賵乇 賮卅丞 鬲毓丕乇囟賴 .. 賲毓 丕賱賵賯鬲 鬲賱賰 丕賱賮卅丞 鬲乇鬲賰亘 賲賳 丕賱卮乇賵乇 賵丕賱馗賱賲 賲丕 賷賵丕夭賷
丕賱丨賰賲 丕賱匕賷 孬丕乇鬲 毓賱賷賴 .. 賷氐亘丨 賰賱 賲禺丕賱賮 賱乇兀賷賴丕 毓丿賵丕 賷爻鬲丨賯 丕賱賯鬲賱
賵賴匕丕 賲丕 丨丕賵賱 兀賵爻賰丕乇 廿賷氐丕賱賴 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞
..丨鬲賶 丕賱氐丕賱丨 賯丿 賷賳丨乇賮 毓賳 賲爻賷乇賴 賵賷爻賱賰 胤乇賷賯丕 賲馗賱賲丕 賵丿賲賵賷丕
October 26, 2017
"Brother Willie- "Never mind, Oscar; other great men have had their dramatic failures!" 1883 cartoon by Alfred Bryan after the failure of Oscar Wilde's play Vera; or, The Nihilists in America
Opening: Scene.鈥擜 Russian Inn. Large door opening on snowy landscape at back of stage. Peter Sabouroff and Michael.
Peter (warming his hands at a stove). Has Vera not come back yet, Michael?
Mich. No, Father Peter, not yet; 'tis a good three miles to the post office, and she has to milk the cows besides, and that dun one is a rare plaguey creature for a wench to handle.
Peter. Why didn't you go with her, you young fool? she'll never love you unless you are always at her heels; women like to be bothered.
Mich. She says I bother her too much already, Father Peter, and I fear she'll never love me after all.
Peter. Tut, tut, boy, why shouldn't she? you're young and wouldn't be ill-favoured either, had God or thy mother given thee another face. Aren't you one of Prince Maraloffski's gamekeepers; and haven't you got a good grass farm, and the best cow in the village? What more does a girl want?
Mich. But Vera, Father Peter鈥�
Peter. Vera, my lad, has got too many ideas; I don't think much of ideas myself; I've got on well enough in life without 'em; why shouldn't my children? There's Dmitri! could have stayed here and kept the inn; many a young lad would have jumped at the offer in these hard times; but he, scatter-brained featherhead of a boy, must needs go off to Moscow to study the law! What does he want knowing about the law! let a man do his duty, say I, and no one will trouble him.
: 鈥淚n many ways, fears of Russian interference unfolded in Victorian Britain in a manner not unlike what we see today鈥�
Historical context: In 1878, three years before the play's completion, Vera Zasulich shot the St Petersburg Chief of Police, Trepov. Wilde described himself as a Socialist, although Ellmann describes his Socialism as more "a general hatred of tyranny" than a specific political belief.
July 29, 2016
3.5 out of 5 stars
Who knew Oscar Wilde would write a tragedy? This one involves war, conspiracies and loss. The plot is set in 18th century Russia, and it revolves around a group - the Nihilists - trying to assassinate the Czar. It had some comments that I couldn't help but think they were meant to deliver a message. But of course, it's not a work by Oscar Wilde if it doesn't have witty comments. So yes, this is a tragedy that gets satirical at points. Truly recommended.
Who knew Oscar Wilde would write a tragedy? This one involves war, conspiracies and loss. The plot is set in 18th century Russia, and it revolves around a group - the Nihilists - trying to assassinate the Czar. It had some comments that I couldn't help but think they were meant to deliver a message. But of course, it's not a work by Oscar Wilde if it doesn't have witty comments. So yes, this is a tragedy that gets satirical at points. Truly recommended.
March 15, 2018
賲爻乇丨賷丞 爻禺賷賮丞 匕賰乇鬲賳賷 亘賲爻乇丨賷丕鬲 丕賱丕胤賮丕賱 丕賱賴丿賮 賲賳賴丕 賮賯胤 丕馗賴丕乇 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 丕賳賴賲 亘賱丕 毓賯賱 丕乇賴丕亘賷賷賳 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 賱丿賷賴賲 丕賶 賮賰乇 賵賱丕 丕賶 毓賯賷丿丞 賷乇丿丿賵賳 亘毓囟 丕賱卮毓丕乇丕鬲 亘丿賵賳 賮賴賲 賵賱丕 鬲胤亘賷賯 .
鬲禺賷賱 賲毓賶 賲噩賲賵毓丞 孬賵乇賷丞 鬲乇賷丿 賯鬲賱 賯賷氐乇 乇賵爻賷丕 賲賳 丕噩賱 丕賱卮毓亘 賵賷乇賷丿賵賳 丕賳賴丕亍 丕賱賲賱賰賷丞 亘兀賶 卮賰賱 賵噩毓賱賴丕 噩賲賴賵乇賷丞 賲毓 丕賳 毓賱賶 賲丕 丕毓賱賲 丕賵賱 毓丿賵 賱賱賮賵囟賵賷丞 賴賶 爻賱胤丞 丕賱丿賵賱丞 丨鬲賶 賱賵 噩賲賴賵乇賷丞 ..
丕賱賲賴賲 卮賰賱賵丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 孬賵乇賷丞 賲賳 囟賲賳賴賲 丕亘賳 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賳賮爻賴 丕賱匕賶 丕賳賯匕賴賲 賲賳 丕賱賲賵鬲 丕毓丿丕賲丕 賵丕賱丕毓鬲賯丕賱...賵丨賷賳賲丕 賷賳噩丨 丕丨丿 丕賮乇丕丿 丕賱賲噩賲賵毓丞 賮賶 賯鬲賱 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賷氐亘丨 丕亘賳 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賴賵 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賲賱賰 丕賱亘賱丕丿..
亘毓丿 賲賵鬲 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賷兀鬲賶 賱賴賲 乇卅賷爻 賵夭乇丕亍 丕賱賯賷氐乇 賵丕賰孬乇 乇噩賱 毓匕亘 賵爻噩賳 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 ..賵賱丕 丕毓賱賲 賰賷賮 毓賱賲 亘賲賰丕賳賴賲 賲丕 賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱爻賴賱 賯鬲賱賴賲 賲賳 賮鬲乇丞 !!!!
噩丕亍 賱賷賯賵賱 賱賴賲 丕賳丕 賲毓賰賲 賮丕賱賯賷氐乇 丕賱噩丿賷丿 賳賮丕賳賶 丕賱賶 亘丕乇賷爻 丕賳丕 賲毓賰賲 賱賳賯鬲賱 丕賱賲賱賰 丕賱噩丿賷丿 賮賷賯鬲賳毓賵丕 亘賰賱丕賲賴 賵賷噩毓賱賵賴 毓囟賵丕 賲賳賴賲 !!!!
賵賱丕 丕丨丿 爻兀賱 賳賮爻賴 丕匕 賰丕賳 匕賱賰 丕賱賯賷氐乇 丕賱噩丿賷丿 爻賷賰賵賳 賯賷氐乇 噩賷丿 賱兀賳賴 賳賮丕 丕賱賮丕爻丿賷賳 .. 賵匕賱賰 丕賱賮丕爻丿 賷乇賷丿 賯鬲賱賴 賱賷丨賱 賲丨賱賴 賯賷氐乇 丕禺乇 賮丕爻丿 賲孬賱 兀亘賷賴 ...丕亘丿丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲禺賱賮賷賳 .. 賵丕賱賱賴 賱賵 賮乇賷賯 賰賵乇丞 賲卮 賴賷毓賲賱賵丕 賰丿丕...賵亘胤賱丞 丕賱賵賮賵囟賵賷丞 乇賮囟鬲 賯鬲賱 丕賱賯賷氐乇 丕賱噩丿賷丿 賱兀賳賴丕 鬲丨亘賴 賵賯丕賱鬲 丕毓胤賵丕 賱賴 賮乇氐丞 賮賯丕賱賵丕 賱丕 爻賳賯鬲賱賴 賮匕賴亘鬲 賱賴 賱鬲賯鬲賱賴 賱賰賳 丕賱丨亘 丕賯賵賷 ...丨鬲賶 丕賮囟賱 卮禺氐賷丞 賮賶 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 噩毓賱賴丕 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 賲鬲禺賱賮丞 賲孬賱 亘賯賷丞 丕賱賲噩賲賵毓丞..
賱丕 丕乇賷丿 丨乇賯 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱賲賮兀噩丕丞 丕賱賮馗賷毓丞 丕賱賵賴賲賷丞 賱賰賳 丕丨亘 丕賯賵賱 丕賳 賳賴丕賷丞 爻賳賵 賵丕賷鬲 賵丕賱丕賯夭丕賲 丕丨賱賶 賲賳 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 丿賴 ..
賱賲 丕賯乇亍 毓賳 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷丞 丕賱丕 毓丿丞 丕爻胤乇 賯賱賷賱丞 賵賱賰賳 賰賷賮 賷噩毓賱 賮賰乇 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷丞 賵賴賵 賮賰乇 爻賷丕爻賷 賮賱爻賮賷 賱賴 賲賮賰乇賷賳賴 亘賴匕賴 丕賱鬲賮丕賴丞 丨鬲賶 賱賲 鬲賰賳 賲賯鬲賳毓 亘賮賰乇賴賲 賱賰賳 賷噩亘 丕馗賴丕乇賴 賰賲丕 賷噩亘 丕賳 賷賰賵賳 ...
August 28, 2019
Oscar Wilde's first play, written in 1880-it is described by Wilde's son Vyvyan Holland - in the introduction to "Complete Works of Oscar Wilde" as " A rather immature play, which ran for one week in New York, and never reached the boards in London".
It is weak and clich茅d in some parts but not without flashes of brilliance in others. Beautiful peasant girl, Vera Sabouroff joins a fanatical band of Nihilists, to avenge her bother, Dmitri, who is excelled by the Tsar. She becomes their heroin and Russia's most wanted assassin. The Nihilists are joined by Tsarevitch Alexis, who after the assassination of his father, becomes Tsar, and is thus marked for assassination by the Nihilists. Vera, who has fallen in love with the Tsarevitch, is chosen to carry out the operation to assassinate Alexis, who has embarked on a string of reforms. What follows is an ending, which mirrors Romeo and Juliet as Vera takes her own life to `save Russia'.
The hallmarks of the play are the wit of the Tsar Senior's Prime Minister Paul Maraloffski, and Vera's Lady Macbethesque speech where she steels herself to assassinate Alexis, before turning from Lady Macbeth into Juliet.
It lacks the finesse of Wilde's later plays like The Importance Of Being Earnest , Lady Windermere's Fan and Salome , but is interesting as part of a study into the development of Wilde's work.
It is weak and clich茅d in some parts but not without flashes of brilliance in others. Beautiful peasant girl, Vera Sabouroff joins a fanatical band of Nihilists, to avenge her bother, Dmitri, who is excelled by the Tsar. She becomes their heroin and Russia's most wanted assassin. The Nihilists are joined by Tsarevitch Alexis, who after the assassination of his father, becomes Tsar, and is thus marked for assassination by the Nihilists. Vera, who has fallen in love with the Tsarevitch, is chosen to carry out the operation to assassinate Alexis, who has embarked on a string of reforms. What follows is an ending, which mirrors Romeo and Juliet as Vera takes her own life to `save Russia'.
The hallmarks of the play are the wit of the Tsar Senior's Prime Minister Paul Maraloffski, and Vera's Lady Macbethesque speech where she steels herself to assassinate Alexis, before turning from Lady Macbeth into Juliet.
It lacks the finesse of Wilde's later plays like The Importance Of Being Earnest , Lady Windermere's Fan and Salome , but is interesting as part of a study into the development of Wilde's work.
April 29, 2019
Oscar Wilde and Russia. Two things I really love... but throw them together and you get something that resembles neither, and thus, in the end, fell flat for me. I love my little trash child, but I especially adore his pettiness when it comes to his society plays. The way he makes fun of the London high society is just golden.
Vera, or The Nihilists (1880), however, is quite the different play. It is a melodramatic tragedy set in Russia and is loosely based on the life of Vera Zasulich, who was a 19th century Russian Menshevik writer and revolutionary. Even though this political melodrama lacks a lot of wit (or in general a good plot), I really appreciate it, because it was Oscar's first play, and as his mom, I am bound to be proud. ;) The play was not a success (what a surprise) and folded after only one week (my poor baby boy, just you wait, your time will come). Alfred Bryan, a Canadian lyricist, actually made fun of Oscar, drawing a cartoon of him with the description: "Never mind, Oscar; other great men have had their dramatic failures!" Oh my.
At the time of writing, the reform-minded Tsar Alexander II was involved in a struggle with revolutionaries who sought to assassinate him (and eventually succeeded). Though none of Wilde's characters correspond to actual Russian people of the time, the above situation was well-known both to Wilde and to the audience for which he was writing. In 1878, three years before the play's completion, Vera Zasulich shot the St Petersburg Chief of Police, Trepov.
The play starts out in a tavern, which is situated along a road to the prison camps in Siberia. Vera is working there as a barmaid, when a gang of prisoners stop at the tavern. She immediately recognises her brother as one of the prisoners. In order to avenge him, she sets out for Moscow to join the Nihilists, a terrorist group trying to assassinate the Czar.
Years later, Vera has become the Nihilists' top assassin. During her work with them she fell in love with fellow Nihilist Alexis. When a Nihilist meeting is nearly broken up by soldiers, Alexis thwarts them by revealing his true identity: he is the Czarevich, heir to the Russian throne. Where this earns him more admiration from Vera, the other Nihilists hate him even more because they condemn the Czar and his offspring.
After the Nihilists manage to assassinate the Czar, Alexis ascends the throne and exiles Prince Paul Maraloffski. The latter then joins the Nihilists and convinces them that Alexis is a traitor, and so they set out to kill him. This task is given to Vera, so that she can prove where her loyalties lie. She is supposed to stab Alexis, and throw the dagger out of the window as a signal to Nihilist agents below. If she does not, the agents will break in and kill Alexis. Remebering her poor brother's fate, Vera grows cold, and agrees to stab the man he loves.
Alexis, unaware of the schemings, is actually trying to be a good ruler. After his coronation he intends to end injustice in Russia, and give back to the poor, and restore the prisoners to their rightful home. When Vera enters the palace, she can't bring herself to kill him, and after a good heart-to-heart, Alexis proposes to her. As she accepts him, she hears the agents outside getting restless because of the missing signal. In order to save Alexis and the improvements his reign will bring, she stabs herself (which is fucking stupid, but we'll talk about that later) and throws the dagger out the window. The agents depart satisfied. When Alexis asks her shocked what she has done, she replies: I have saved Russia (which sounds fucking epic now, but is, in fact, just really, really stupid).
So, let's talk about this clusterfuck, also known as the plot of this play. First of all, I am not even sure what kind of message Oscar was trying to send with this? Was he trying to undermine his Socialist standing, did he take the view that one is never too young to die for one's country? Like... I need an explanation, because this whole terrorist group thang made no lick of sense. So, let's talk about the ending, which solved absolutely nothing. Sorry to break it to you, Vera, but you did not save Russia. You stabbed yourself for nothing... because guess what whill happen the next morning? The Nihilists will see that Alexis is still alive, then they will assume that Alexis stabbed you (you aka Vera), and so this will be another reason for them to motherfucking assassinate Alexis. A mission which they will easily accomplish because Alexis refuses to have guards with him, and then Russia will go to shit again. Round of fucking applause for your stupidity, Vera. Here's what you should have done: TALK to the motherfucking agents and TELL them that Alexis is a good dude, and that he intends to end the injust treatment of the poor Russian population, and then give Alexis an ultimatum, so that he can prove that he means busines... And everyone can live happily ever after. Saved Russia, my ass.
So overall this play just lacked sense and wit, even though we can see the forerunner of the Dandy in the character of Prince Paul, who was acutally a complete shithead, but due to his cynical and snarky comments, one of my favorite characters:
Also, I'm not trying to be petty or anything, but instead of calling himself the Lord of Language, Oscar should have called himself the Lord of I-used-that-line-before, because now that I have read all of his plays, it is mind-boggling to me how often he re-used his good lines. So in Vera Prince Paul says: "Experience, the name men give to their mistakes.", and then, some years later, in Lady Windermere's Fan, Mr Dumby says: "Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." - I see what you did there, Oscar, and it's cheap. Real cheap, my son. (He did the same thing with the famous phrase: "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his." which he used in Earnest and in A Woman of No Imporance)
I know I'm being really hard on my son right now, but criticizing my faves is a hobby of mine. It's a sport. Keeps the mind sharp. ;) Overall, I think it was really insightful and about time that I finally read Oscar's first play. It is amazing to reconstruct his literary journey and see how he progressed as a writer over the years. Chapeau to my little trash child, you did well in the end. <3
Vera, or The Nihilists (1880), however, is quite the different play. It is a melodramatic tragedy set in Russia and is loosely based on the life of Vera Zasulich, who was a 19th century Russian Menshevik writer and revolutionary. Even though this political melodrama lacks a lot of wit (or in general a good plot), I really appreciate it, because it was Oscar's first play, and as his mom, I am bound to be proud. ;) The play was not a success (what a surprise) and folded after only one week (my poor baby boy, just you wait, your time will come). Alfred Bryan, a Canadian lyricist, actually made fun of Oscar, drawing a cartoon of him with the description: "Never mind, Oscar; other great men have had their dramatic failures!" Oh my.
At the time of writing, the reform-minded Tsar Alexander II was involved in a struggle with revolutionaries who sought to assassinate him (and eventually succeeded). Though none of Wilde's characters correspond to actual Russian people of the time, the above situation was well-known both to Wilde and to the audience for which he was writing. In 1878, three years before the play's completion, Vera Zasulich shot the St Petersburg Chief of Police, Trepov.
The play starts out in a tavern, which is situated along a road to the prison camps in Siberia. Vera is working there as a barmaid, when a gang of prisoners stop at the tavern. She immediately recognises her brother as one of the prisoners. In order to avenge him, she sets out for Moscow to join the Nihilists, a terrorist group trying to assassinate the Czar.
Years later, Vera has become the Nihilists' top assassin. During her work with them she fell in love with fellow Nihilist Alexis. When a Nihilist meeting is nearly broken up by soldiers, Alexis thwarts them by revealing his true identity: he is the Czarevich, heir to the Russian throne. Where this earns him more admiration from Vera, the other Nihilists hate him even more because they condemn the Czar and his offspring.
After the Nihilists manage to assassinate the Czar, Alexis ascends the throne and exiles Prince Paul Maraloffski. The latter then joins the Nihilists and convinces them that Alexis is a traitor, and so they set out to kill him. This task is given to Vera, so that she can prove where her loyalties lie. She is supposed to stab Alexis, and throw the dagger out of the window as a signal to Nihilist agents below. If she does not, the agents will break in and kill Alexis. Remebering her poor brother's fate, Vera grows cold, and agrees to stab the man he loves.
Alexis, unaware of the schemings, is actually trying to be a good ruler. After his coronation he intends to end injustice in Russia, and give back to the poor, and restore the prisoners to their rightful home. When Vera enters the palace, she can't bring herself to kill him, and after a good heart-to-heart, Alexis proposes to her. As she accepts him, she hears the agents outside getting restless because of the missing signal. In order to save Alexis and the improvements his reign will bring, she stabs herself (which is fucking stupid, but we'll talk about that later) and throws the dagger out the window. The agents depart satisfied. When Alexis asks her shocked what she has done, she replies: I have saved Russia (which sounds fucking epic now, but is, in fact, just really, really stupid).
So, let's talk about this clusterfuck, also known as the plot of this play. First of all, I am not even sure what kind of message Oscar was trying to send with this? Was he trying to undermine his Socialist standing, did he take the view that one is never too young to die for one's country? Like... I need an explanation, because this whole terrorist group thang made no lick of sense. So, let's talk about the ending, which solved absolutely nothing. Sorry to break it to you, Vera, but you did not save Russia. You stabbed yourself for nothing... because guess what whill happen the next morning? The Nihilists will see that Alexis is still alive, then they will assume that Alexis stabbed you (you aka Vera), and so this will be another reason for them to motherfucking assassinate Alexis. A mission which they will easily accomplish because Alexis refuses to have guards with him, and then Russia will go to shit again. Round of fucking applause for your stupidity, Vera. Here's what you should have done: TALK to the motherfucking agents and TELL them that Alexis is a good dude, and that he intends to end the injust treatment of the poor Russian population, and then give Alexis an ultimatum, so that he can prove that he means busines... And everyone can live happily ever after. Saved Russia, my ass.
So overall this play just lacked sense and wit, even though we can see the forerunner of the Dandy in the character of Prince Paul, who was acutally a complete shithead, but due to his cynical and snarky comments, one of my favorite characters:
Czar: I won't open it. There may be something in it.OR
Prince Paul: It would be a very disappointing letter, Sire, if there wasn't.
Count Rouvaloff: I was giving his Royal Highness some good advice, your Majesty.Oh my, if this doesn't scream ALGERNON to you, I don't know what does. ;)
Prince Paul: Count Rouvaloff is the typical spendthrift, Sire; he is always giving away what he needs most.
Also, I'm not trying to be petty or anything, but instead of calling himself the Lord of Language, Oscar should have called himself the Lord of I-used-that-line-before, because now that I have read all of his plays, it is mind-boggling to me how often he re-used his good lines. So in Vera Prince Paul says: "Experience, the name men give to their mistakes.", and then, some years later, in Lady Windermere's Fan, Mr Dumby says: "Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes." - I see what you did there, Oscar, and it's cheap. Real cheap, my son. (He did the same thing with the famous phrase: "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does, and that is his." which he used in Earnest and in A Woman of No Imporance)
I know I'm being really hard on my son right now, but criticizing my faves is a hobby of mine. It's a sport. Keeps the mind sharp. ;) Overall, I think it was really insightful and about time that I finally read Oscar's first play. It is amazing to reconstruct his literary journey and see how he progressed as a writer over the years. Chapeau to my little trash child, you did well in the end. <3
June 9, 2013
賲賱丕丨馗賴 : 丕賱乇賷賮賷賵 賷丨乇賯 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賱賲賳 賱賲 賷賯乇兀 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 亘毓丿 :)
鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 丨賵賱 丕賱孬賵乇丞 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀胤賱賯 卮毓賱鬲賴丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賮賱丕丨賷賳 賵丕賱匕賷賳 兀胤賱賯 毓賱賷賴賲 丕爻賲 " 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳"
賵 亘胤賱丞 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞貙丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱賯乇賵賷丞貙 丕賱賮賱丕丨丞 " 賮賷乇丕" 賰丕賳鬲 賱賴亘 丕賱孬賵乇丞貙 卮毓賱丞 丕賱丿賷賲賵賯乇丕胤賷丞貙 賵 乇賵丨 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳
亘毓丿 賳賮賷 兀禺賷賴丕 丕賱賶 丕賯丕氐賷 爻賷亘賷乇賷丕 賲賳 賯亘賱 丕賱兀賲亘乇丕胤賵乇 賯乇乇鬲 乇賮毓 卮毓丕乇 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵賯丿 賯胤毓鬲 毓賱賶 賳賮爻賴丕 毓賴丿丕 亘兀賳 賱丕 鬲丨亘 賵賱丕鬲丨亘 丨鬲賶 鬲氐亘丨 乇賵爻賷丕 噩賲賴賵乇賷丞 賵鬲毓賲 丕賱丕卮鬲乇丕賰賷丞 . 賱賰賳賴丕 禺丕賳鬲 毓賴丿賴丕 兀賲丕賲 爻胤賵丞 丕賱丨亘 賮賯丿 爻賱賲鬲 賯賱亘賴丕 賱丕亘賳 丕賱廿賲亘乇丕胤賵乇 丨賱賷賮 丕賱卮毓亘 賵丕賱賮賱丕丨賷賳 丕賱孬賵乇賷賷賳 .... 賵賯丿 丿丕賮毓 亘丕爻鬲賲丕鬲丞 毓賱賶 賯囟賷鬲賴賲 兀賲丕賲 賵丕賱丿賴 .
賲賳 亘賷賳 兀噩賲賱 兀賯賵丕賱賴 /
賱丕... 鬲賲賴賱 賷丕 賵丕賱丿賷: 賱賯丿 丕賯鬲氐乇 丕賱賯爻丕賵爻丞 丕賱賮乇丿賵爻 賲賳 丕賱卮毓亘貙 賵丕賳鬲 丕賱丌賳 鬲乇賷丿 兀賳 鬲兀禺丿 賲賳賴賲 丕賱兀乇囟...賴賱 賳丨賳 賲毓氐賵賲賵賳 賲賳 丕賱匕賳賵亘 丨鬲賶 賳鬲丨賰賲 賮賷 兀乇賵丕丨賴賲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賯爻賵丞 貙 賳丨賳 噩賲賷毓賳丕 賳鬲賳賮爻 賳賮爻 丕賱賴賵丕亍 賵鬲丿賮卅賳丕 賳賮爻 丕卮毓丞 丕賱卮賲爻貙 賱賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕 賳賮爻 丕賱丿賲 賵丕賱卮丨賲 賵丕賱賱丨賲貙 賵賱賰賳 賴賲 賷賲賵鬲賵賳 噩賵毓丕 賵賳丨賳 賳乇賲賷 亘賯丕賷丕 胤毓丕賲賳丕貙 賴賲 賷毓賲賱賵賳 賱賷賱 賳賴丕乇貙 賵賳丨賳 賱丕 賳毓賲賱 毓賱賶 丕賱丕胤賱丕賯貙 亘賱 賳賱賴賵 賱賷賱 賳賴丕乇貙 賴賲 賷賲賵鬲賵賳 ...
賲毓 丕丨鬲囟丕乇丕鬲" 賮賷乇丕 "賮賷 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 丿賮毓鬲 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 賯乇亘丕賳丕 賱乇賵爻賷丕
丕賱噩賲賴賵乇賷丞貙 鬲禺賷賱鬲賴丕 鬲卅賳 亘丕賱賳卮賷丿 丕賱兀賲賲賷 賱賱卮丕毓乇 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷 "兀賵噩賷賳 亘賵鬲賷賷賴" 賵毓賱賶 賳睾賲丕鬲 兀賳賷賳賴丕貙 賰丕賳 賷爻賯胤 乇賲夭 丕賱丕賲亘乇丕胤賵乇賷丞 賵賷毓賱賵 賲噩丿 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳
賲賯胤賵毓丞 1
Debout, les damn茅s de la terre
Debout, les for莽ats de la faim
La raison tonne en son crat猫re
C'est l'茅ruption de la fin
Du pass茅 faisons table rase
Foules, esclaves, debout, debout
Le monde va changer de base
Nous ne sommes rien, soyons tout
|: C'est la lutte finale
Groupons-nous, et demain
L'Internationale
Sera le genre humain :|
.賴賭亘賵丕 囟丨丕賷丕 丕賱丕囟胤賴丕丿
囟丨丕賷賭丕 噩賵毓 丕賱丕囟胤賭乇丕乇
亘賭乇賰賭賭丕賳 丕賱賭賮賰賭乇 賮賷 丕鬲賭賾賭賯丕丿
賴賭賭匕丕 丌禺乇 丕賳賮賭賭噩賭賭丕乇
賴賭賷丕 賳丨賭賭賵 賰賭賱 賲丕 賲賭乇
孬賭賭賵乇賵丕 丨賭胤賭賲賵丕 丕賱賭賯賭賷賭賭賵丿
卮賭賷賭丿賵丕 丕賱賰賵賳 噩丿賷丿 丨乇
賰賭賭賵賳賵丕 兀賳賭賭鬲賭賲 丕賱賭賵噩賵丿
|: 亘賭噩賭賲賵毓 賯賭賵賷丞
賴亘賵丕 賱丕丨 丕賱馗賮乇 睾丿
丕賱兀賲赌賲赌赌賷丞
賷賭賵丨丿 丕賱亘賭賭卮賭乇 :
鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞 丨賵賱 丕賱孬賵乇丞 丕賱乇賵爻賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀胤賱賯 卮毓賱鬲賴丕 賲噩賲賵毓丞 賲賳 丕賱賮賱丕丨賷賳 賵丕賱匕賷賳 兀胤賱賯 毓賱賷賴賲 丕爻賲 " 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳"
賵 亘胤賱丞 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷丞貙丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱賯乇賵賷丞貙 丕賱賮賱丕丨丞 " 賮賷乇丕" 賰丕賳鬲 賱賴亘 丕賱孬賵乇丞貙 卮毓賱丞 丕賱丿賷賲賵賯乇丕胤賷丞貙 賵 乇賵丨 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳
亘毓丿 賳賮賷 兀禺賷賴丕 丕賱賶 丕賯丕氐賷 爻賷亘賷乇賷丕 賲賳 賯亘賱 丕賱兀賲亘乇丕胤賵乇 賯乇乇鬲 乇賮毓 卮毓丕乇 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵賯丿 賯胤毓鬲 毓賱賶 賳賮爻賴丕 毓賴丿丕 亘兀賳 賱丕 鬲丨亘 賵賱丕鬲丨亘 丨鬲賶 鬲氐亘丨 乇賵爻賷丕 噩賲賴賵乇賷丞 賵鬲毓賲 丕賱丕卮鬲乇丕賰賷丞 . 賱賰賳賴丕 禺丕賳鬲 毓賴丿賴丕 兀賲丕賲 爻胤賵丞 丕賱丨亘 賮賯丿 爻賱賲鬲 賯賱亘賴丕 賱丕亘賳 丕賱廿賲亘乇丕胤賵乇 丨賱賷賮 丕賱卮毓亘 賵丕賱賮賱丕丨賷賳 丕賱孬賵乇賷賷賳 .... 賵賯丿 丿丕賮毓 亘丕爻鬲賲丕鬲丞 毓賱賶 賯囟賷鬲賴賲 兀賲丕賲 賵丕賱丿賴 .
賲賳 亘賷賳 兀噩賲賱 兀賯賵丕賱賴 /
賱丕... 鬲賲賴賱 賷丕 賵丕賱丿賷: 賱賯丿 丕賯鬲氐乇 丕賱賯爻丕賵爻丞 丕賱賮乇丿賵爻 賲賳 丕賱卮毓亘貙 賵丕賳鬲 丕賱丌賳 鬲乇賷丿 兀賳 鬲兀禺丿 賲賳賴賲 丕賱兀乇囟...賴賱 賳丨賳 賲毓氐賵賲賵賳 賲賳 丕賱匕賳賵亘 丨鬲賶 賳鬲丨賰賲 賮賷 兀乇賵丕丨賴賲 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賯爻賵丞 貙 賳丨賳 噩賲賷毓賳丕 賳鬲賳賮爻 賳賮爻 丕賱賴賵丕亍 賵鬲丿賮卅賳丕 賳賮爻 丕卮毓丞 丕賱卮賲爻貙 賱賳丕 噩賲賷毓丕 賳賮爻 丕賱丿賲 賵丕賱卮丨賲 賵丕賱賱丨賲貙 賵賱賰賳 賴賲 賷賲賵鬲賵賳 噩賵毓丕 賵賳丨賳 賳乇賲賷 亘賯丕賷丕 胤毓丕賲賳丕貙 賴賲 賷毓賲賱賵賳 賱賷賱 賳賴丕乇貙 賵賳丨賳 賱丕 賳毓賲賱 毓賱賶 丕賱丕胤賱丕賯貙 亘賱 賳賱賴賵 賱賷賱 賳賴丕乇貙 賴賲 賷賲賵鬲賵賳 ...
賲毓 丕丨鬲囟丕乇丕鬲" 賮賷乇丕 "賮賷 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 丕賱鬲賷 丿賮毓鬲 丨賷丕鬲賴丕 賯乇亘丕賳丕 賱乇賵爻賷丕
丕賱噩賲賴賵乇賷丞貙 鬲禺賷賱鬲賴丕 鬲卅賳 亘丕賱賳卮賷丿 丕賱兀賲賲賷 賱賱卮丕毓乇 丕賱賮乇賳爻賷 "兀賵噩賷賳 亘賵鬲賷賷賴" 賵毓賱賶 賳睾賲丕鬲 兀賳賷賳賴丕貙 賰丕賳 賷爻賯胤 乇賲夭 丕賱丕賲亘乇丕胤賵乇賷丞 賵賷毓賱賵 賲噩丿 丕賱孬賵丕乇 丕賱毓丿賲賷賷賳
賲賯胤賵毓丞 1
Debout, les damn茅s de la terre
Debout, les for莽ats de la faim
La raison tonne en son crat猫re
C'est l'茅ruption de la fin
Du pass茅 faisons table rase
Foules, esclaves, debout, debout
Le monde va changer de base
Nous ne sommes rien, soyons tout
|: C'est la lutte finale
Groupons-nous, et demain
L'Internationale
Sera le genre humain :|
.賴賭亘賵丕 囟丨丕賷丕 丕賱丕囟胤賴丕丿
囟丨丕賷賭丕 噩賵毓 丕賱丕囟胤賭乇丕乇
亘賭乇賰賭賭丕賳 丕賱賭賮賰賭乇 賮賷 丕鬲賭賾賭賯丕丿
賴賭賭匕丕 丌禺乇 丕賳賮賭賭噩賭賭丕乇
賴賭賷丕 賳丨賭賭賵 賰賭賱 賲丕 賲賭乇
孬賭賭賵乇賵丕 丨賭胤賭賲賵丕 丕賱賭賯賭賷賭賭賵丿
卮賭賷賭丿賵丕 丕賱賰賵賳 噩丿賷丿 丨乇
賰賭賭賵賳賵丕 兀賳賭賭鬲賭賲 丕賱賭賵噩賵丿
|: 亘賭噩賭賲賵毓 賯賭賵賷丞
賴亘賵丕 賱丕丨 丕賱馗賮乇 睾丿
丕賱兀賲赌賲赌赌賷丞
賷賭賵丨丿 丕賱亘賭賭卮賭乇 :
March 2, 2019
Though this plot makes little sense, I liked the cynical humour and plenty of witty epigrams. If there were a little less melodrama I would have liked Oscar Wilde's first play more.
July 5, 2013
A Fun Little Melodrama, Comedy, and Revolution
Set in 19th Century Russia, there is a smell of revolution in the air. The Nihilists plot to assassinate the Czar, with top assassin Vera feared above all by the Empire. But who can they trust? Where do loyalties lie? Who are the spies and double agents lurking amongst the palace and the Nihilists?
There are some nice little twists in the plot with echoes of and . I would classify the play as a "tragicomedy". The plot is quite simple and easily developed.
The melodrama and tragedy are well balanced by Wilde's classic cynical humour, with plenty of witty epigrams:
"Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it."
"Indifference is the revenge the world takes on mediocrities."
"I would sooner lose my best friend than my worst enemy. To have friends, you know, one need only be good-natured; but when a man has no enemy left there must be something mean about him."
It is this wealth of witty epigrams, which really sets Wilde apart as an excellent and extremely intelligent writer. Indeed, the success of his later plays such as, and are founded upon Wilde's comic genius.
However, the ending is perhaps predictable, and the play lacks the ultimate wow-factor present in most of Wilde's works. Still, it was a pleasure to read. This was Wilde's first play, and it unfortunately flopped upon its first releases.
This is well worth a read to get a taste of Wilde's earlier works. I like this mix of a little humour, a little melodrama, and a little revolution. I give this play 3.5/5 stars, rounding up because I'm feeling generous today!
Set in 19th Century Russia, there is a smell of revolution in the air. The Nihilists plot to assassinate the Czar, with top assassin Vera feared above all by the Empire. But who can they trust? Where do loyalties lie? Who are the spies and double agents lurking amongst the palace and the Nihilists?
There are some nice little twists in the plot with echoes of and . I would classify the play as a "tragicomedy". The plot is quite simple and easily developed.
The melodrama and tragedy are well balanced by Wilde's classic cynical humour, with plenty of witty epigrams:
"Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it."
"Indifference is the revenge the world takes on mediocrities."
"I would sooner lose my best friend than my worst enemy. To have friends, you know, one need only be good-natured; but when a man has no enemy left there must be something mean about him."
It is this wealth of witty epigrams, which really sets Wilde apart as an excellent and extremely intelligent writer. Indeed, the success of his later plays such as, and are founded upon Wilde's comic genius.
However, the ending is perhaps predictable, and the play lacks the ultimate wow-factor present in most of Wilde's works. Still, it was a pleasure to read. This was Wilde's first play, and it unfortunately flopped upon its first releases.
This is well worth a read to get a taste of Wilde's earlier works. I like this mix of a little humour, a little melodrama, and a little revolution. I give this play 3.5/5 stars, rounding up because I'm feeling generous today!
November 6, 2014
賲爻乇丨賷丞 噩賷丿 噩丿丕...鬲丿賵乇 丕丨丿丕孬賴丕 賮賷 乇賵爻賷丕 丕賱賯賷氐乇賷丞...丨賷孬 丕賱孬賵乇丞 賵丕賱禺賷丕賳賴 賵 丕賱丕爻鬲亘丿丕丿
亘胤賱丞 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 賮鬲丕賴 賯乇賵賷丞 丕爻賲賴丕 賮賷乇丕 丨賷孬 鬲丨賵賱鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱賴丕丿卅丞 丕賱賷 孬丕卅乇丞 賲毓 噩賲丕毓丞 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 賱丿乇噩丞 丕賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲丐乇賯 丕賱賯賷氐乇 丕賱丕亘 亘匕丕鬲賴
賱丕 丕乇賷丿 兀賳 丕丨乇賯 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 賵 賱賰賳 賲丕 賷禺乇噩 亘賴 丕賱賲乇亍 賲賳賴丕 賴賵 賰賷賮 兀賳 丕賱鬲胤乇賮 賮賷 丕賱孬賵乇賷丞 賯丿 鬲丐丿賷 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱丕丨賷丕賳 丕賱賷 丕爻鬲亘丿丕丿 丕氐丨丕亘賴丕賵 賲賱卅 賳賮賵爻賴賲 亘丕賱丨賯丿 賵 丕賱賰乇賴 鬲噩丕賴 賰賱 賲丕 賷禺丕賱賮賴賲 賮賷氐亘丨 卮毓丕乇賴賲 丕賳賴 賲賳 賱賷爻 賲毓賳丕 賮賴賵 囟丿賳丕 賵賱丕亘丿 賲賳 丕爻鬲卅氐丕賱賴
賴賳丕賰 亘毓囟 丕賱噩賲賱 賯丿 丕爻鬲賵賯賮鬲賳賷 賲孬賱
噩丕亍 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳 亘賷鬲乇 爻丕亘賵乇賵賮 賲賵噩賴丕 賰賱丕賲賴 丕賱賷 丕亘賳鬲賴 賮賷乇丕 :毓賱賶 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱卮乇賷賮 兀賳 賷賳鬲賴夭 丕賱賮乇氐丞 賱賷亘鬲夭 乇夭賯賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賵睾丕丿 亘賷賳 丕賱賮賷賳丞 賵 丕賱兀禺乇賶
噩丕亍 毓賱賷 賱爻丕賳 丕賱兀賲賷乇 亘賵賱 賲賵噩賴丕 丨丿賷孬賴 丕賱賶 賵賱賷 丕賱毓賴丿 丕賱賰爻賷爻 : 亘丕賱鬲兀賰賷丿 ...賮丕賳賷 賱兀賮囟賱 賮賯丿 丕毓夭 丕賱丕氐丿賯丕亍 毓賱賶 禺爻丕乇丞 丕爻賵兀 丕賱丕毓丿丕亍.賮賰爻亘 丕賱丕氐丿賯丕亍 賱丕 賷賰賱賮 丕賱賲乇亍廿賱丕 丕賱鬲馗丕賴乇 亘丕賱胤賷亘丞 賵丨爻賳 丕賱爻乇賷乇丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕.兀賲丕 丕賳毓丿丕賲 丕賱兀毓丿丕亍 賮丿賱賷賱 毓賱賶 鬲賮丕賴丞 丕賱卮禺氐
噩丕亍 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳 賵賱賷 丕賱毓賴丿 丕賱賰爻賷爻 賲賵噩賴丕 賰賱丕賲賴 丕賱賷 丕賱丕賲賷乇 亘賵賱 : 賱賯丿 爻賱亘 丕賱乇賴亘丕賳 賲賲賱賰丞 丕賱爻賲丕亍 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賵 鬲乇賷丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲爻賱亘賵賴賲 賲賲賱賰丞 丕賱兀乇囟 兀賷囟丕
兀賵丿 丕賱丕卮丕乇賴 丕賱賷 丕賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 亘丿兀 亘賲賯丿賲賴 胤賵賷賱賴 鬲丨丿孬鬲 毓賳 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷丞 賵 鬲毓乇賷賮賴丕 賵 鬲丕乇賷禺賴賲丕...賰賲丕 噩丕亍 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丿賲賴 鬲毓乇賷賮 毓賳 丕賱賲丐賱賮 兀賵爻賰丕乇 賵丕賷賱丿 賵 賳亘匕賴 毓賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 賵 丕毓賲丕賱賴 賵 丕賮賰丕乇賴
賵乇睾賲 胤賵賱 丕賱賲賯丿賲賴 丕賱丕 丕賳賴丕 孬乇賷丞 噩丿丕 賵 賱丕爻賷賲丕 丕賳賴 丕賵賱 毓賲賱 丕賯乇兀賴 賱兀賵爻賰丕乇 賵丕賷賱丿
丕賲丕 毓賳 丕賱鬲乇噩賲賴 賮賯丿 賰丕賳鬲 胤賷亘賴 賵 賲賵賮賯賴
賲賱丨賵馗丞 丕禺賷乇賴 賯亘賱 丕賳 丕禺鬲賲 賰賱丕賲賷 賵賴賷 丕賳 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 丕爻賲賴丕 丕賱丕氐賱賷 亘賱睾丞 丕賱丕賲 賴賵 賮賷乇丕 丕賵 丕賱賳賷賴賱爻鬲 賵 賱賰賳 丕賱賲鬲乇噩賲 丌孬乇 丕賳 賷噩毓賱 丕爻賲賴丕 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 賵 賯丿 丕卮丕乇 丕賱賷 匕賱賰 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丿賲丞
亘胤賱丞 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 賮鬲丕賴 賯乇賵賷丞 丕爻賲賴丕 賮賷乇丕 丨賷孬 鬲丨賵賱鬲 賲賳 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱賴丕丿卅丞 丕賱賷 孬丕卅乇丞 賲毓 噩賲丕毓丞 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 賱丿乇噩丞 丕賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲丐乇賯 丕賱賯賷氐乇 丕賱丕亘 亘匕丕鬲賴
賱丕 丕乇賷丿 兀賳 丕丨乇賯 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 賵 賱賰賳 賲丕 賷禺乇噩 亘賴 丕賱賲乇亍 賲賳賴丕 賴賵 賰賷賮 兀賳 丕賱鬲胤乇賮 賮賷 丕賱孬賵乇賷丞 賯丿 鬲丐丿賷 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱丕丨賷丕賳 丕賱賷 丕爻鬲亘丿丕丿 丕氐丨丕亘賴丕賵 賲賱卅 賳賮賵爻賴賲 亘丕賱丨賯丿 賵 丕賱賰乇賴 鬲噩丕賴 賰賱 賲丕 賷禺丕賱賮賴賲 賮賷氐亘丨 卮毓丕乇賴賲 丕賳賴 賲賳 賱賷爻 賲毓賳丕 賮賴賵 囟丿賳丕 賵賱丕亘丿 賲賳 丕爻鬲卅氐丕賱賴
賴賳丕賰 亘毓囟 丕賱噩賲賱 賯丿 丕爻鬲賵賯賮鬲賳賷 賲孬賱
噩丕亍 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳 亘賷鬲乇 爻丕亘賵乇賵賮 賲賵噩賴丕 賰賱丕賲賴 丕賱賷 丕亘賳鬲賴 賮賷乇丕 :毓賱賶 丕賱乇噩賱 丕賱卮乇賷賮 兀賳 賷賳鬲賴夭 丕賱賮乇氐丞 賱賷亘鬲夭 乇夭賯賴 賲賳 丕賱丕賵睾丕丿 亘賷賳 丕賱賮賷賳丞 賵 丕賱兀禺乇賶
噩丕亍 毓賱賷 賱爻丕賳 丕賱兀賲賷乇 亘賵賱 賲賵噩賴丕 丨丿賷孬賴 丕賱賶 賵賱賷 丕賱毓賴丿 丕賱賰爻賷爻 : 亘丕賱鬲兀賰賷丿 ...賮丕賳賷 賱兀賮囟賱 賮賯丿 丕毓夭 丕賱丕氐丿賯丕亍 毓賱賶 禺爻丕乇丞 丕爻賵兀 丕賱丕毓丿丕亍.賮賰爻亘 丕賱丕氐丿賯丕亍 賱丕 賷賰賱賮 丕賱賲乇亍廿賱丕 丕賱鬲馗丕賴乇 亘丕賱胤賷亘丞 賵丨爻賳 丕賱爻乇賷乇丞 兀丨賷丕賳丕.兀賲丕 丕賳毓丿丕賲 丕賱兀毓丿丕亍 賮丿賱賷賱 毓賱賶 鬲賮丕賴丞 丕賱卮禺氐
噩丕亍 毓賱賶 賱爻丕賳 賵賱賷 丕賱毓賴丿 丕賱賰爻賷爻 賲賵噩賴丕 賰賱丕賲賴 丕賱賷 丕賱丕賲賷乇 亘賵賱 : 賱賯丿 爻賱亘 丕賱乇賴亘丕賳 賲賲賱賰丞 丕賱爻賲丕亍 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賵 鬲乇賷丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲爻賱亘賵賴賲 賲賲賱賰丞 丕賱兀乇囟 兀賷囟丕
兀賵丿 丕賱丕卮丕乇賴 丕賱賷 丕賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 亘丿兀 亘賲賯丿賲賴 胤賵賷賱賴 鬲丨丿孬鬲 毓賳 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷丞 賵 鬲毓乇賷賮賴丕 賵 鬲丕乇賷禺賴賲丕...賰賲丕 噩丕亍 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丿賲賴 鬲毓乇賷賮 毓賳 丕賱賲丐賱賮 兀賵爻賰丕乇 賵丕賷賱丿 賵 賳亘匕賴 毓賳 丨賷丕鬲賴 賵 丕毓賲丕賱賴 賵 丕賮賰丕乇賴
賵乇睾賲 胤賵賱 丕賱賲賯丿賲賴 丕賱丕 丕賳賴丕 孬乇賷丞 噩丿丕 賵 賱丕爻賷賲丕 丕賳賴 丕賵賱 毓賲賱 丕賯乇兀賴 賱兀賵爻賰丕乇 賵丕賷賱丿
丕賲丕 毓賳 丕賱鬲乇噩賲賴 賮賯丿 賰丕賳鬲 胤賷亘賴 賵 賲賵賮賯賴
賲賱丨賵馗丞 丕禺賷乇賴 賯亘賱 丕賳 丕禺鬲賲 賰賱丕賲賷 賵賴賷 丕賳 丕賱賲爻乇丨賷賴 丕爻賲賴丕 丕賱丕氐賱賷 亘賱睾丞 丕賱丕賲 賴賵 賮賷乇丕 丕賵 丕賱賳賷賴賱爻鬲 賵 賱賰賳 丕賱賲鬲乇噩賲 丌孬乇 丕賳 賷噩毓賱 丕爻賲賴丕 丕賱賮賵囟賵賷賵賳 賵 賯丿 丕卮丕乇 丕賱賷 匕賱賰 賮賷 丕賱賲賯丿賲丞
July 2, 2017
My assumption is that this was written because the writer believed passionately in the central point of the dangers of ideologies causing people to lose their humanity. It is demonstrated in the Czar who is paralyzed by advisors who convince him of plotting by literally everyone to political groups who deny evidence because it goes against what they want to believe.
The really curious aspect about this is that it was written by Oscar Wilde, and it is devoid of the wit and creativity usually found in his work. It isn't bad, but it would be a tedious night at the theater filled with chest-beating and long-winded pronouncements. The interesting emotional element of two people who are kept from love by their positions in society and culture is reduced to a sub-plot.
This is not to say that the central message is not worth addressing. The presentation, though is similar to many social justice pieces that are formatted like an extended lecture. There are moments, early in the work, when there are brief brushes of comedic social commentary. These are soon swept under the carpet and replaced with more strident speeches.
For me, this was worth reading as an Oscar Wilde curio. Prime Wilde it isn't.
The really curious aspect about this is that it was written by Oscar Wilde, and it is devoid of the wit and creativity usually found in his work. It isn't bad, but it would be a tedious night at the theater filled with chest-beating and long-winded pronouncements. The interesting emotional element of two people who are kept from love by their positions in society and culture is reduced to a sub-plot.
This is not to say that the central message is not worth addressing. The presentation, though is similar to many social justice pieces that are formatted like an extended lecture. There are moments, early in the work, when there are brief brushes of comedic social commentary. These are soon swept under the carpet and replaced with more strident speeches.
For me, this was worth reading as an Oscar Wilde curio. Prime Wilde it isn't.
July 23, 2012
Not my most favorite of the Wilde plays I have read as it deals with the political times of Russia in the nineteen hundreds. What Wilde says is true though and offers the reader the ability to know that through all tyrannies there are people who refuse to be repressed no matter what the consequences will be. Freedom comes with lots of bloodshed, heartbreak, and a willingness to give up one's life for an ideal. Certainly, our forefathers here in America have ingrained that into the American spirit. We see it exhibited every day on the fields of war both in foreign countries and the streets of this country.
October 8, 2022
Prince Paul = chef's kiss. Would loooove to see this in the theater. Wowie.
Read
February 18, 2025Thank Christ he put down the Shakespeare compendium and got on the troika to pound town instead!
May 19, 2013
It's a tragedy that one of the best Wildean Tragedy, 'Vera, or the Nihilists', isn't a we known play at all! We go about praising other plays by him and know that he can write comedies like 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and social satires like'A Woman of No Importance' but Wilde is the last person a reader can associate with tragedies, which is a shame indeed because 'Vera, or the Nihilists' happens to be one of the finest tragedies that I have ever come across. In fact, in my opinion, it is even better than Bernard Shaw's 'Saint Joan' because unlike Joan, Vera's sense of patriotism is not exactly guided by the Divine Word. It is much more practical and has a clear motive.
The only place where I'd dock off stars from this play is that it is not entirely faithful to history and historical facts. In fact, I recommend you do some digging on Czar Alexander II first. Or maybe after because it really spoils the play's romance!
The only place where I'd dock off stars from this play is that it is not entirely faithful to history and historical facts. In fact, I recommend you do some digging on Czar Alexander II first. Or maybe after because it really spoils the play's romance!
November 4, 2012
And who would have thought that the end would be Romeo-and-Juliet-like. What's more, with so little cliches. As always with Wilde, there's so many young and pure characters, and that one depraved, Paul in this case, once mentioning a remarkable statement that every decent man has friends, but having a true enemy is a feature of a strong, remarkable man that stand out. And the romantic Russia was saved by love. :)
January 4, 2013
Wilde, I'm glad you made the switch to comedy, because this tragedy is not one of your best works. It's readable, but the ending is agonizingly inevitable, and for being an assassin at the center of the action, Vera's character is flat and predictable. Some of Wilde's irony and wit lurks around corners here and there, but it's mostly from Prince Paul and the minor characters of the royal party, making those characters that we are meant to revile, the most entertaining to watch.
August 29, 2012
As Oscar Wilde's first play this is more of a historical curiousity than anything resembling his subsequent great works. A melodrama about a group of Russian nihilists, Vera has some good drama, some witty exchanges, and a decent plot. But it is also a bit odd, heavy handed at times, and hardly scintilating from beginning to end.
July 12, 2017
The revolution
The brain-washing
The slyness and conspiracy
The romance
The feminism
The sacrifice
The oath
The blood
The humanity
It was a new light to see Wilde under, yet he excelled. A pleasant surprise. The ending a genius.
The play was very well-structured. Each act delivered exactly what it was supposed to, and all of them put together flowed beautifully. You did it again, Oscar!
The brain-washing
The slyness and conspiracy
The romance
The feminism
The sacrifice
The oath
The blood
The humanity
It was a new light to see Wilde under, yet he excelled. A pleasant surprise. The ending a genius.
The play was very well-structured. Each act delivered exactly what it was supposed to, and all of them put together flowed beautifully. You did it again, Oscar!
August 12, 2016
乇亘丕賴 賲丕 兀賴賵賳 賯鬲賱 丕賱丕賱賵賮 賲賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賵兀爻賴賱賴 毓賱賶 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱賲賱賵賰. 亘賷賳賲丕 賳毓噩夭 賳丨賳 毓賳 丕賱鬲禺賱氐 賲賳 賵丕丨丿 賲賳 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱賲鬲賵噩賷賳.
December 2, 2021
Maybe I read this wrong, bc this really felt like a parody of the times more than a really dramatic play?
I loved it, sadly I feel like its too short and somethings felt super rushed
I loved it, sadly I feel like its too short and somethings felt super rushed
January 13, 2025
This year鈥榮 birthday read. Not a particularly bad play, but unfortunately not really outstanding either, especially compared to Wilde鈥檚 other plays. To be fair, once I had finished the play, I found out it was his first play ever written, therefore I haven鈥檛 got the heart to give it a too low rating, especially because all his plays have the Wilde charm, his love for tragedy and witty characters, and of course, the satire epigrams, this one included.
Historically an interesting choice of plot, as it鈥檚 set in the 18th century in Russia with a female protagonist leading a political revolution, however it was too predictable almost from the beginning and the ending was too a bit odd for my own personal taste.
Some quotations from the play:
鈥淎nd if death came himself, methinks that I could kiss his pallid mouth, and such sweet poison from it.鈥�
鈥淚 would sooner lose my best friend than my worst enemy. To have friends, you know, one need only be good-natured; but when a man has no enemy left there must be something mean about him.鈥�
鈥淚f to have enemies is a measure of greatness, then you must be a Colossus, indeed, Prince.鈥�
鈥淚t is not so romantic a thing to lose one鈥檚 head, Prince Paul.鈥�
鈥淣o, but it must often be very dull to keep it. Don鈥檛 you find that sometimes?鈥�
鈥淚 would lay at your feet this mighty Russia, which you and I have loved so well; would give you this earth as your footstool; ser this crown on your head鈥�
鈥淒eath is in my heart too; we shall die together!鈥�
Historically an interesting choice of plot, as it鈥檚 set in the 18th century in Russia with a female protagonist leading a political revolution, however it was too predictable almost from the beginning and the ending was too a bit odd for my own personal taste.
Some quotations from the play:
鈥淎nd if death came himself, methinks that I could kiss his pallid mouth, and such sweet poison from it.鈥�
鈥淚 would sooner lose my best friend than my worst enemy. To have friends, you know, one need only be good-natured; but when a man has no enemy left there must be something mean about him.鈥�
鈥淚f to have enemies is a measure of greatness, then you must be a Colossus, indeed, Prince.鈥�
鈥淚t is not so romantic a thing to lose one鈥檚 head, Prince Paul.鈥�
鈥淣o, but it must often be very dull to keep it. Don鈥檛 you find that sometimes?鈥�
鈥淚 would lay at your feet this mighty Russia, which you and I have loved so well; would give you this earth as your footstool; ser this crown on your head鈥�
鈥淒eath is in my heart too; we shall die together!鈥�
September 29, 2024
"Det 盲r idiotiskt att indela folk i goda och onda. Folk 盲r antingen charmerande eller tr氓kiga"
January 27, 2025
Wilde's first play, a tragic melodrama set in Russia, punctuated with epigrams that he recycled for his later works.
Good thing he found his forte. His wit would have been wasted here.
January 23, 2015
I never thought that an Oscar Wilde play could ever be disappointing to me in the slightest, but I actually did not enjoy this play as much as I thought that I would.
"Vera, or the Nihilists" is a play about a 19th-century Russia dealing with a group opposed to the Czarist government, which apparently was a real problem at the time. A woman named Vera is an assassin for this group because the goverment of the Czar was responsible for killing her brother. Additionally, a man named Alexis is a member of the Nihilist group, but he is actually the son of the Czar who jumps back and forth between the Nihilists and the Czarists.
As you can imagine, the story and its characters are a little too predictable for full enjoyment in my opinion; Vera is obviously a tragic character who is going to meet a tragic end. From the first moment I saw Alexis, I had a feeling that he would be the one to jump back and forth between alleigances. All in all, this is a fairly typical melodrama- not really that impressive, but in the same respect, not at all bad. I was just amazed that this play was actually by Oscar Wilde to begin with, because I typically have a very high standard for him and his works.
Not a bad read, but not really the most impressive play I have ever read. I feel like the plot twists used are ones that I have seen before.
"Vera, or the Nihilists" is a play about a 19th-century Russia dealing with a group opposed to the Czarist government, which apparently was a real problem at the time. A woman named Vera is an assassin for this group because the goverment of the Czar was responsible for killing her brother. Additionally, a man named Alexis is a member of the Nihilist group, but he is actually the son of the Czar who jumps back and forth between the Nihilists and the Czarists.
As you can imagine, the story and its characters are a little too predictable for full enjoyment in my opinion; Vera is obviously a tragic character who is going to meet a tragic end. From the first moment I saw Alexis, I had a feeling that he would be the one to jump back and forth between alleigances. All in all, this is a fairly typical melodrama- not really that impressive, but in the same respect, not at all bad. I was just amazed that this play was actually by Oscar Wilde to begin with, because I typically have a very high standard for him and his works.
Not a bad read, but not really the most impressive play I have ever read. I feel like the plot twists used are ones that I have seen before.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2017
Wilde's first play is almost universally panned.
While nowhere near as accomplished as his masterworks like Earnest, there is a satisfying mix of clever comedy, prince (or czarevich) and the pauper plot, and melodrama.
You want witty epigrams? He's got witty epigrams!
"When you are as old as I am, Prince, you will understand that there are few things easier than to live badly and to die well."
"To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist鈥攖he problem is so entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar."
"You have been married twice already; suppose you try鈥攆alling in love, for once."
"Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it."
But the bold thing here is that an Irishman, whose mother was a (in)famous republican, would write lines that advocate terrorism, assassination, and revolution. Let's joke about regicide!
Imagine as Gladstone's government is debating the Irish Question in parliament (and passing the Irish Coercion Act), a long-haired dandy from Dublin is writing: "There should be no crowned man in Europe. Have I not sworn it? To be strong our new Republic should be drunk with the blood of kings."
It is ripe for a reappraisal.
Plus Wilde is funnier than Dostoevsky on his best day.
While nowhere near as accomplished as his masterworks like Earnest, there is a satisfying mix of clever comedy, prince (or czarevich) and the pauper plot, and melodrama.
You want witty epigrams? He's got witty epigrams!
"When you are as old as I am, Prince, you will understand that there are few things easier than to live badly and to die well."
"To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist鈥攖he problem is so entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar."
"You have been married twice already; suppose you try鈥攆alling in love, for once."
"Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it."
But the bold thing here is that an Irishman, whose mother was a (in)famous republican, would write lines that advocate terrorism, assassination, and revolution. Let's joke about regicide!
Imagine as Gladstone's government is debating the Irish Question in parliament (and passing the Irish Coercion Act), a long-haired dandy from Dublin is writing: "There should be no crowned man in Europe. Have I not sworn it? To be strong our new Republic should be drunk with the blood of kings."
It is ripe for a reappraisal.
Plus Wilde is funnier than Dostoevsky on his best day.
April 11, 2019
According to the critics, this first performed play of Oscar Wilde's did not go over well with audiences, closing only one short week on stage. To audiences at the timme I can definitely see why the themes didn't resonate, but in our post-Soviet (current-dictatorship) view of Russia Wilde was making some canny observations. It's no secret that the Russian monarchy had gone bad by the close of the 1800s, but it's kind of surprising that Wilde was picking up on the tone of the younger monarch having more Western ideals regarding their crown. This fantasy, of course, did not see any sort of reality until the Russian Revolution and murder of the Tsar and his family. It's surprising in the modern era that the play is rarely revived, but I guess it was too much a product of its time and Wilde's prediction of a violent upheaval was too close to home. It also doesn't help that Wilde balanced the political intrigue (the obvious strong theme of the play) with a pandering (and barfy) love story that ends badly...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2015
A group of conspirators (the nihilists) in 19th century Russia plots to overthrow the throne and create a republic. One of them, however, is Alexis, the czarovich, the heir to the throne, but who is also sympathetic to their cause. The eponymous Vera is the shining star of the nihilists, and she and the czarovich have fallen for one another. When one of the conspirators kills the czar and Alexis takes over, his own life is put in danger as the nihilists insist that any man who wears a crown must be killed.
The story was fairly straightforward and it was obvious from the get-go that it would have a tragic ending. As Wilde鈥檚 first play, it was bound to be rough around the edges. However, it is interesting historically and published only a year before the murder of Nicholas II, the then-czar of Russia. Some of the lines, though, show Wilde鈥檚 signature wit--probably my favorite part was when the czar鈥檚 aides were standing around talking and poking at one another.
The story was fairly straightforward and it was obvious from the get-go that it would have a tragic ending. As Wilde鈥檚 first play, it was bound to be rough around the edges. However, it is interesting historically and published only a year before the murder of Nicholas II, the then-czar of Russia. Some of the lines, though, show Wilde鈥檚 signature wit--probably my favorite part was when the czar鈥檚 aides were standing around talking and poking at one another.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.