Ever since its debut on 14 February 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest has been a literary and theatrical success. The brilliance of the witty conversation never ceases to delight and entertain. But beneath its dazzling ironic humour, there is a deep vein of social criticism of Victorian society. This intricate mix of comedy, absurdity, ambiguity and social criticism makes the play Oscar Wilde's masterpiece. - Unabridged text - Wide variety of activities practising the four skills - Extensive introduction on the life and times of Oscar Wilde - Numerous footnotes to aid comprehension, with phonetic transcription of difficult words - Recording of key scenes