Salome

When the prophet Jokanaan is brought to the attention of the princess Salome, he rebukes her interest, which causes her to make a brutal declaration.Oscar Wilde's one-act tragedy explores the repercussions of her horrifying decision. Originally composed in French in 1892, Salome is a controversial tale full of cruelty and retribution. Wilde expands on the Biblical story of John the Baptist, whom was captured and beheaded by Herod Antipas. It explores the interaction between the characters showing Salome's spiteful nature and Herod's growing concern. It's a bold adaptation of a somber tale that leaves a mark on all who read it. Salome's one-act story structure immediately dives into the strange dynamic amongst Herod and his family. Once Salome's bloodlust is apparent Herod's forced to reconcile both of their futures. It's a haunting drama that's amplified by its Biblical setting and notable characters. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Salome is both modern and readable.

When the prophet Jokanaan is brought to the attention of the princess Salome, he rebukes her interest, which causes her to make a brutal declaration.Oscar Wilde's one-act tragedy explores the repercussions of her horrifying decision. Originally composed in French in 1892, Salome is a controversial tale full of cruelty and retribution. Wilde expands on the Biblical story of John the Baptist, whom was captured and beheaded by Herod Antipas. It explores the interaction between the characters showing Salome's spiteful nature and Herod's growing concern. It's a bold adaptation of a somber tale that leaves a mark on all who read it. Salome's one-act story structure immediately dives into the strange dynamic amongst Herod and his family. Once Salome's bloodlust is apparent Herod's forced to reconcile both of their futures. It's a haunting drama that's amplified by its Biblical setting and notable characters. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Salome is both modern and readable.

Salome is Oscar Wilde’s most experimental—and controversial—play. In its own time, the play, written in French, was described by a reviewer as “an arrangement in blood and ferocity, morbid, bizarre, repulsive.” None, however, could deny the importance of Wilde’s creation. Contemporary audiences and reviewers variously regarded Salome as the symbol of a thrilling modernity, a challenge to patriarchy, a confession of desire, a sign of moral decay, a new form of art, and a revolt against the restraints of Victorian society. Less well known than Wilde’s beloved comedies, Salome is as enduringly modern and relevant. This edition uses the English translation done by Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, and overseen and corrected by Wilde himself. Appendices detail the play’s sources and provide extensive materials on its contemporary reception and dramatic productions.