Salomé

by Oscar Wilde

"Salomé" by Oscar Wilde is a one-act tragedy written in 1891 and published in 1893. This controversial play depicts the biblical story of Salome, stepdaughter of Herod Antipas, who becomes dangerously obsessed with the imprisoned prophet Jokanaan. Her fatal fascination leads to seduction attempts, the infamous dance of the seven veils, and ultimately violence and death. Originally written in French and banned in Britain for decades due to its depiction of biblical characters, the play inspired Richard Strauss's famous opera and sparked international controversy.