{"product_id":"oscar-wilde-and-the-theatre-of-the-1890s-a-critical","title":"Oscar Wilde and the Theatre of the 1890s - A Critical","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Oscar Wilde and the Theatre of the 1890s, Kerry Powell provides a focused study aimed at readers who want to understand Wilde as a playwright within the theatrical currents of his day. The book's chief strength is its contextual approach: Powell situates Wilde alongside contemporaries and lesser-known dramatists, showing how Wilde both imitated and undermined prevailing dramatic fashions. This review finds the work most valuable for students, scholars, and serious theatre fans seeking clear historical analysis rather than a casual biography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContextual analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powell maps Wilde's plays against the popular theatre of the 1890s to clarify how his works related to and diverged from mainstream stage practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComparative focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book examines contemporaries such as Arthur Shirley, Lady Violet Greville, Sydney Grundy and W. Lestocq to illuminate contrasts with Wilde's dramatic choices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powell highlights the sexual and moral politics of the era, offering readers a framework for interpreting subtext in Wilde's plays.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEvidence-rich:\u003c\/strong\u003e Production photographs and an appendix of biographies provide visual and biographical support that complements the textual analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEuropean perspective:\u003c\/strong\u003e Discussion of Ibsen's impact places Wilde in a broader Continental theatrical conversation, widening the book's critical reach.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is best suited to university students, theatre historians and informed readers who want a scholarly yet readable account of Wilde's stagecraft and the theatrical milieu of the 1890s. Those preparing essays or production notes will find the comparative chapters and biographies particularly useful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a general life-and-times biography of Wilde, a quick introduction for casual reading, or a collection of primary texts should look elsewhere; this is primarily a piece of literary and theatre criticism rather than a popular biography or anthology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear, documented comparisons that make Wilde's innovations intelligible against his contemporaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful production photographs that add historical texture to the textual analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInclusion of an appendix of biographies that serves as a handy reference for researchers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe focus on theatrical context means readers looking for a brisk life narrative will find the approach narrowly academic.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOscar Wilde and the Theatre of the 1890s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKerry Powell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWilde's plays in relation to popular theatre of the 1890s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncludes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProduction photographs and an appendix of biographies\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeographical scope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngland and the Continent\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eComparative figures discussed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArthur Shirley, Lady Violet Greville, Sydney Grundy, W. Lestocq, Ibsen\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKerry Powell's study is a focused, well-documented contribution for readers who want to understand Wilde as a dramatist within his theatrical era. Its comparative approach and supporting photographs make it good value for students and scholars, even if general readers seeking a broad biography may prefer a different title.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book include images of productions?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the book contains production photographs from plays by Wilde and by lesser-known playwrights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book suitable for undergraduate study?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, it is suitable for undergraduate and graduate courses in theatre history and Victorian drama because of its contextual analysis and bibliography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it cover Wilde's entire life?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo, the focus is on Wilde's plays and their relation to the theatre of the 1890s rather than a full biographical account.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kerry Powell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48775702577371,"sku":"0521111676","price":51.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61hQB41nq0L._SL1020.jpg?v=1778834118","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/oscar-wilde-and-the-theatre-of-the-1890s-a-critical","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}