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An ideal husband

Written by Wilde, Oscar

"An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde is a four-act play first produced in 1895. When a respected politician faces blackmail over a youthful indiscretion, his carefully constructed life threatens to collapse. His wife demands unwavering moral perfection, unaware of the secret that built their fortune. As political corruption and personal honor collide, a charming bachelor friend attempts to navigate the crisis. This comedy of manners explores the gap between public reputation and private truth, questioning whether anyone can truly be ideal.

Level C1 pagesEnglish

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Categories: British Literature Plays/Films/Dramas

Readers: Adults Teens

Suggested age: 14+ (AI estimate)

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"An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde is a four-act play first produced in 1895. When a respected politician faces blackmail over a youthful indiscretion, his carefully constructed life threatens to collapse. His wife demands unwavering moral perfection, unaware of the secret that built their fortune. As political corruption and personal honor collide, a charming bachelor friend attempts to navigate the crisis. This comedy of manners explores the gap between public reputation and private truth, questioning whether anyone can truly be ideal.

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Level C1

Language difficulty is an AI estimate based on sampled text.

Reader and content guidance is an AI estimate based on the title, author, source summary, contents and selected excerpts. Unseen portions have not been assessed.

Recommended age: 14+ (AI estimate)
AI estimate for this sampled edition: themes of blackmail, marriage and public versus private morality need conceptual maturity; independent enjoyment likely from about 14, while younger readers would need supported reading with explanation of social context and irony. Based on named-book metadata and selected excerpts; unseen text was not assessed. This is guidance, not an official age rating; individual reading ability varies.

Source: Project Gutenberg · Public domain in the USA.

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