Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and Other Stories

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime, and Other Stories

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

Oscar Wilde's witty collection of semi-comic mystery stories, first published in 1891, blends Victorian social satire with supernatural elements. Featuring tales like 'The Canterville Ghost' and 'The Sphinx Without a Secret,' the book explores themes of art, love, and morality through Wilde's signature humor and psychological insight.

Summary up to 500 words

Oscar Wilde's *Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, and Other Stories* is a collection of short fiction that masterfully parodies the detective genre while maintaining his signature tone of irony and elegance. The volume opens with the titular story, where the young Lord Arthur Savile is haunted by a prophecy of murder. His fate is sealed by Mr. Podgers, a fortune-teller whose readings are startlingly accurate, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings that ultimately resolve the narrative through Wilde's characteristic wit. The collection then shifts to *The Canterville Ghost*, set in an English country house occupied by a pragmatic, materialistic American family. Here, the traditional ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, is tormented by the Otises, who treat his hauntings as a joke. The story finds its emotional core in the relationship between the ghost and the young daughter, Virginia, whose kindness and purity help him find peace before his death, fulfilling a prophecy of harmony. Other tales include *The Sphinx Without a Secret*, a mystery involving mistaken identity; *The Model Millionaire*, a classic fable of generosity where a wealthy eccentric aids a poor artist; and *The Portrait of Mr. W. H.*, a scholarly meditation on Shakespeare's sonnets and the theory that they were addressed to a young actor named Willie Hughes. Through these narratives, Wilde critiques Victorian hypocrisy, celebrates the transformative power of art, and examines the complexities of human relationships. The stories are defined by sophisticated dialogue, playful subversion of expectations, and a unique blend of the macabre with the mundane. By blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion, Wilde invites readers to question societal norms and appreciate the enduring value of compassion and creativity within a rigid society.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.globalgreyebooks.com/ebooks/oscar-wilde_lord-arthur-saviles-crime-and-other-stories.epub

Local file path

data/epubs/url-2dc6938f0cb228c0.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-06-30 03:11 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery
• Humour