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Oscar
A Life
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Check link for latest rating. ( 813 ratings, 131 reviews)
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Oscar
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
The first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years is the most complete telling of his life and times to date.
The first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years is the most complete telling of his life and times to date.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
The first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years, Oscar by Matthew Sturgis, stands as the definitive account of Wilde's extraordinary life and times. This meticulously researched biography paints a vivid portrait of the legendary wit, playwright, and aesthete, capturing the paradoxes and complexities that defined his existence. From his meteoric rise to fame as a beloved figure of London's literary circles to his tragic fall from grace, Sturgis chronicles Wildeโs journey with a blend of scholarly rigour and narrative flair.
NOMINATED FOR THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2019
The Book of the Year, perhaps of the decade - TLS
Simply the best modern biography of Wilde... A terrific achievement - Evening Standard
Page-turning... Vivid and desperately moving. However much you think you know Wilde, this book will absorb and entertain you - The Sunday Times Books of the Year
Oscar Wilde's life โ like his wit โ was alive with contradictions. A pioneer and victim of 'celebrity culture', Wilde was equally celebrated and scorned in society. Despite his comic genius, he pursued tragedies; though an unabashed snob, he relished unmasking societal flaws. Known for his disdainful dandyism, Wilde was also capable of profound kindness. While he deeply loved his wife and children, he harboured passionate relationships with men, culminating in his ill-fated romance with Lord Alfred Douglas, which ultimately led to his legal troubles and downfall.
Sturgis delves into Wilde's paradoxical nature, illustrating how Wilde mocked authority yet sought legal validation for his love, revelled in public adoration yet died in near solitude. Wilde's defiance against the social and sexual norms of his era endears him to those who champion individuality and nonconformity. This engaging biography is enriched by new material and research, vividly bringing to life the distinctive characters and atmosphere of the fin de siรจcle. Through Sturgis' masterful storytelling, Oscar offers the most compelling and richly detailed portrait of Wilde to date, showcasing a man who continues to inspire and challenge societal conventions.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Oscar by Matthew Sturgis is captivating and deeply moving, bringing new light to Oscar Wilde's life and contradictions. Reviews highlight Sturgis's unmatched research, his engaging narrative, and the biographyโs balance of wit, detail, and emotion. It is praised for its comprehensive, authoritative, and enjoyable account of Wilde's rise and fall.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781803284347
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 29 September 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Apollo
Illustration: 3 x 8pp b&w
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 640g
Pages: 912
About the Author
Matthew Sturgis is the author of acclaimed biographies of Aubrey Beardsley and Walter Sickert, as well as Passionate Attitudes: The English Decadence of the 1890s. He has contributed to the TLS, Harpers & Queen and the Independent on Sunday. Matthew is on the editorial board of The Wildean, the journal of the Oscar Wilde society.
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