Oscar Wilde 
Vera; or, The Nihilists 

While Wilde might be better known for acidic and satirical comedies, such as ‘The Importance of being Earnest, ‘ and ‘Lay Windemere’s Fan, ‘ his first outing as a playwright was in the realms of tragedy. Set in Russia, ‘Vera; or, The Nihilists’ follows the eponymous Vera on her journey from barmaid, to joining terrorist group, ‘The Nihilists, ‘ and becoming their top assassin. Inspired by real-life events, Wilde’s play explores the idea that full commitment to an ideology can dehumanise almost anyone. While considered a tragedy, and with more than a whiff of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ about it, ‘Vera; or, The Nihilists’ is peppered with the playwright’s trademark wit and caustic cynicism. A superb read for those who enjoyed the TV-Series ‘Killing Eve’ starring Jodie Comer and want to see how it all began for one of the 19th Century’s most famous — and infamous — writers.-