Essays and Lectures

'Essays and Lectures' is a collection of essays and lectures by Oscar Wilde. 'Essays and Lectures' contains "The Rise of Historical Criticism", "The English Renaissance of Art", "House Decoration", "Art and the Handicraftsman", "Lecture to Art Students", "London Models" and "Poems in Prose".

There are seven selections in this book amounting to about 200 pages of reading. Oscar Wilde topics include the history of historical criticism, the pre-Raphaelite movement, several different perspectives on art especially decorative art, a curious piece on the then new institution of artist's models and finally three or four so-called "poems in prose". If you are used to the witticisms and clever wordplay of Lady Windermere's Fan or The Importance of Being Earnest, you may find these readings rather dry.