We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars – Oscar Wilde

Such ironic quips is what Oscar Wilde is famous for, bringing flare and flamboyance to an otherwise subdued and strict society. He was arguably the first celebrity writer, famous for being famous rather than for his actual writing.

But despite his obvious eccentricity and originality, Oscar Wilde firmly embedded himself into the bedrock of the western literary canon, having sparked both controversy and criticism for the then perceived liberal content and themes of his work.

Many people know of Oscar Wilde because of his “scandals”, much as celebrities are today. However, his works contain a wordy and descriptive richness that many have imitated but few can master.

Consider these two quotes in which the sharpness and brilliance of his mind are evident:

“Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.”

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

When reading his better known The Picture of Dorian Gray, the reader is confronted with a dazzling glut of phrases such as the ones above, which are bespattered across every page. It is as brilliant as it is intimidating, and it is a book that can be read over and over again, with the same staggering effect.

But Oscar Wilde also wrote numerous short stories, many of which serve as fantastic introductions to his work for a younger audience. At iClassics Productions, we gathered a collection of such stories into one of our immersive reading apps, featuring the original and unabridged texts, enriched with artistic illustration, animation, interactivity and an original soundtrack.

And coming (very soon) The Canterville Ghost will have a modern light cast upon it in our all new immersive reading app.