The Theatrical World for 1895

including the first reviews of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband

Author

William Archer, with a prefatory letter by Arthur W Pinero and a synopsis of playbills of the year by Henry George Gilbert

Publisher

Walter Scott, London, 1896

Printing Details

First edition, hardback, quarter cloth with paper covered boards, paper title label to spine. 19.5 × 13cm. xxxv, 444pp + ads.

William Archer's round-up of the West End plays, including brief reviews and synposes. Of chief interest is the review of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband which opened in January 1895. It was during this play's run that Oscar Wilde was arrested for "gross indecency" and his name removed from the play and it moved from the Haymarket to the Criterion.

Condition

A good reference copy. The boards are bumped and rubbed, with some marking. The title label is worn. The contents are in good order but a little foxed to the first few pages, and some pages uncut (ie unread).