Le crime de Lord Arthur Savile

by Oscar Wilde

"Le crime de Lord Arthur Savile" by Oscar Wilde is a novella first published in the late 19th century, during the a time of significant literary experimentation and social change in England. This fictional work centers around Lord Arthur Savile, who finds himself entangled in a disturbing prophecy delivered by a chiromancer, compelling him to commit a murder before he can marry the woman he loves, Sybil Merton. The opening of the novella introduces us to a vibrant social gathering at Lady Windermere's house, featuring a diverse group of guests who engage in witty banter. The narrative quickly shifts focus to Lord Arthur Savile, who, upon hearing revealing insights about his future from the chiromancer, grapples with the ominous necessity of carrying out a murder to fulfill his perceived duty and to protect his impending marriage. As he contemplates the moral and existential implications of the chiromancer's prophecy, Wilde captures the absurdity of social conventions and the eerie intersection of duty and personal desire.