Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act

by Oscar Wilde

"Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act" by Oscar Wilde is a one-act tragedy written in 1891 and first published in French in 1893. The play depicts the biblical story of Salome, stepdaughter of Herod Antipas, who becomes obsessed with the imprisoned prophet Jokanaan (John the Baptist). When he rejects her advances, she performs the infamous dance of the seven veils, leading to a cascade of fatal consequences. Banned in Britain for decades due to its depiction of biblical characters, the play scandalized audiences and inspired Richard Strauss's renowned 1905 opera.