The Importance of Being Earnest

Army Lists of the period, I suppose, Aunt Augusta? Lady Bracknell The General was essentially a man of peace, except in his domestic life. But I have no doubt his name would appear in any military directory. Jack The Army Lists of the last forty years are here. These delightful records should have been my constant study. Rushes to bookcase and tears the books out. M. Generals⁠ ⁠… Mallam, Maxbohm, Magley, what ghastly names they have⁠—Markby, Migsby, Mobbs, Moncrieff! Lieutenant 1840, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, General 1869, Christian names, Ernest John. Puts book very quietly down and speaks quite calmly. I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest. Lady Bracknell Yes, I remember now that the General was called Ernest, I knew I had some particular reason for disliking the name. Gwendolen Ernest! My own Ernest! I felt from the first that you could have no other name! Jack Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me? Gwendolen I can. For I feel that you are sure to change. Jack My own one! Chasuble To Miss Prism. Lætitia! Embraces her. Miss Prism Enthusiastically. Frederick! At last! Algernon Cecily! Embraces her. At last! Jack Gwendolen! Embraces her. At last! Lady Bracknell My nephew, you seem to be displaying signs of triviality. Jack On the contrary, Aunt Augusta, I’ve now realised for the first time in my life the vital Importance of Being Earnest.

Tableau

Colophon

The Importance of Being Earnest
was published in 1895 by
Oscar Wilde.

This ebook was produced for
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Alex Cabal,
and is based on a transcription produced in 2006 by
David Price
for
Project Gutenberg
and on digital scans available at the
Internet Archive.

The cover page is adapted from
Aubrey Beardsley,
a painting completed in 1895 by
Jacques-Émile Blanche.
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League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
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