Although I consider myself an admirer of Oscar Wilde, I must admit to having read only a few of his lesser known pieces; so when I came across this little collection I seized the opportunity to acquaint myself more fully with the great author. I was not disappointed by what I found.

John Wyse Jackson has done a wonderful job as editor; the 36 pieces selected are arranged in such a way that each leads nicely on to the next, creating a logical flow to the collection as a whole. His introduction is also commendable in both its familiarity and its modesty. He writes "[This book] does not pretend to be scholarly. There are no notes or critical apparatus. What is contained in these pages is purely a selection of the writings that Wilde produced in order to earn enough money to live up to his own standards." Even so, each of the four lectures included benefits from a brief note explaining the origin of the text presented.

At the time of this edition's publication (London : Fourth Estate, 1991), none of the pieces was in print anywhere else; I'm sure this is no longer the case, yet even without this 'USP' it remains a worthwhile compilation. In the reviews, lectures, and essays contained within its pages, one glimpses an aspect of Wilde not always so noticable in his novel or plays: here we find an enthusiastic orator, a sharp intellect, and a reviewer one would certainly not wish to displease.