A collection of Wilde’s celebrated witticisms on the dangers of sincerity, duplicitious biographers, the stupidity of the English – and his own genius.

LIFE CHEATS US WITH SHADOWS. WE ASK IT FOR PLEASURE. IT GIVES IT TO US, WITH BITTERNESS AND DISAPPOINTMENT IN ITS TRAIN.

Part of Penguin’s Little Black Classics series to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946, this one was a cute gift from Queen Mary University of London waaaay back when I was applying for my undergrad. I was offered an unconditional place (#humblebrag) after stuttering through an on-the-spot analysis of a poem, but I ended up risking it all to go to the Uni of Bristol, but I still appreciate the literary incentive from Queen Mary nonetheless.

Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast is a collection of Wilde’s bon mots. My main takeaway is that Oscar Wilde would’ve been the King of Twitter. He’s pessimistic, obnoxious and awfully sarcastic – but that’s what makes him one of a kind!

The musings and observations that fill this little book are wonderfully entertaining. Despite his arrogance, one can’t help but be amused. The witticisms range from sad and cynical to just pure brilliant and beautiful depending on the mood social media influencer Oscar Wilde is in.

All in all, Only Dull People Are Brilliant at Breakfast is a lovely little collection to introduce people to the brilliant mind of Oscar Wilde. However, it is just 52 pages of quotes with no differentiation or citations to let you know whether they were lifted from his essays, plays or lectures. It also fails to mention whether or not these are quotes from Wilde himself or his characters which could be a tad frustrating if you’re a novice to Wilde.

Yet, it’s still a great insight into a very interesting man.

RATING
★★★★