An Ideal Husband

More about the book

The play centers on Sir Robert Chiltern, a government minister whose life unravels when Mrs. Cheveley threatens to expose his past misdeeds. In a bid to salvage his reputation, he seeks help from his friend Lord Goring, who knows Mrs. Cheveley's secrets. Themes of hypocrisy, women's roles, and the struggle between public and private honor permeate the narrative. Written in 1895, the play reflects Wilde's personal fears of scandal, paralleling his own tumultuous life. This edition includes a new biography of Oscar Wilde.