He reveals his relationship with lord douglas, and tells of wildes last days in paris. Neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde charts fully for the first time oscars astonishing erotic odyssey through victorian londons sexual underworld. Neil mckenna provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wildes trials for sodomy. The secret life of oscar wilde is his first biography. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao is a novel written by dominican american author junot diaz and published in 2007. Oscar wildes scandalous secret the imaginative conservative. Wildes secret life isnt exactly secret anymore, but british journalist mckenna aims to chronicle, in salacious detail, his relations with every boy from the time he arrived at oxfords magdalen college in 1874 through his imprisonment for gross indecency in 1895 and beyond. Neil mckenna mckenna argues that our view of oscar wilde is determined by victorian sentimentality. This sensational new biography of wilde is based on the authors discovery of some unpublished and littleknown source material, relating particularly to his sex life. And mckenna turned up lots of sources previously untapped, like the voluminous diaries of george ives, who recorded all sorts of confidences from his. Mar 10, 2017 so said oscar wilde of his remarkable life a life more complex, more erotic, more troubled and more triumphant than any of his contemporaries ever knew or suspected. The secret life of oscar wilde neil mckenna, author.
Neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde charts fully for the first time oscars astonishing erotic odyssey through victorian londons sexual. Neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde charts fully for the first time oscar s astonishing erotic odyssey through victorian londons sexual underworld. The secret life of oscar wilde pdf books library land. In the secret life of oscar wilde, neil mckenna provides stunning new insight into the tumultuous sexual and psychological worlds of this brilliant and tormented figure mckenna charts wildes astonishing odyssey through londons sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wildes trials for sodo. It transforms our knowledge of wilde by its detailed account of his engagement with the victorian homosexual underworld. Now, for the first time, neil mckenna focuses on the tormented genius of wildes personal life, reproducing remarkable love letters and detailing wildes untilnow unknown relationships with other men. Oscar wildes unconventional life began with an equally unconventional family. Although mckenna was clearly justified in basing a biography on wilde s love of men, there are too many passages which suffer from a sort of activists monomania. Although a work of fiction, the novel is set in new jersey in the united states, where diaz was raised, and it deals with the dominican republic experience under dictator rafael trujillo. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna penguin. The secret life of oscar wilde neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde came out sixteen years ago, when there was already a bookcase full of oscar wilde biographies, but mckenna boldly ventured into oscar s sex life in ways that most previous biographers had avoided.
The books charts fully for the first time oscar wildes astonishing. From his outsize celebrity in victorian london to his authorship of fiction, drama, and poetry that uniquely captured his era, its fair to say that wilde succeeded on both counts. Click download or read online button to get the secret life of oscar wilde book now. He was born oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde on october 16, 1854, at 21 westland row, dublin, ireland. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna books. Oscar wilde biography cliffsnotes study guides book. Wilde once remarked that there were only three ways to get into society. The secret life of oscar wilde book by neil mckenna. Mar 05, 2009 the secret life of oscar wilde ebook written by neil mckenna. Neil mckenna provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wilde s trials for sodomy. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna goodreads. One of the greatest joys of writing it undoubtedly came from the numerous wilde aphorisms that mckenna was able to intersperse in the text. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna 2003, book. In the secret life of oscar wilde, neil mckenna provides stunning new insight into the tumultuous sexual and psychological worlds of this brilliant and tormented figure.
This is riveting and heartbreaking biography of the wonderfully talented oscar wilde that tells all about the writers life in a vivid way. The secret life of oscar wilde download ebook pdf, epub. This sensational new biography of wilde is based on the authors discovery of some unpublished and littleknown source material, relating. The secret life of oscar wilde book by neil mckenna thriftbooks. So said oscar wilde of his remarkable lifea life more complex, more. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Buy the secret life of oscar wilde new ed by mckenna, neil isbn.
Wildes secret life isnt exactly secret anymore, but british journalist mckenna. An intimate biography kindle edition by mckenna, neil. Buy a cheap copy of the secret life of oscar wilde book by neil mckenna. Mckenna charts wildes astonishing odyssey through londons sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wildes trials for sodomy. Description i have put my genius into my life but only my talent into my work.
In fact, it is so scandalous that a current exhibition of his life and legacy at the petit palais musee des beaux arts in paris is keeping the most shocking part of his life under wraps and hidden away safely in a closet. Oscar wilde wanted his life to be a great dramatic work, the tale of the genius brought down by a fatal weakness, of a man who. Sep, 2004 so said oscar wilde of his remarkable life a life more complex, more erotic, more troubled and more triumphant than any of his contemporaries ever knew or suspected. The secret life of oscar wilde is neil mckennas acclaimed and controversial first biography. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the secret life of oscar wilde. The secret life of oscar wilde paperback by neil mckenna. Buy this book oscar wilde, though married to a woman, preferred sex with men. The secret life of oscar wilde i have put my genius into my life but only my talent into my work. A tedious slog through the english authors sexual romps at the expense of his literary achievements. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna books on. Mar 05, 2009 in the secret life of oscar wilde, neil mckenna provides stunning new insight into the tumultuous sexual and psychological worlds of this brilliant and tormented figure. The double life in the importance of being earnest by oscar wilde the importance of being earnest appears to be a conventional 19th century farce. It is an archetypal tale of a young man who purchases eternal youth at the expense of his soul and a.
Discover the latest buzzworthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna librarything. Oct 25, 2003 the secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna century. I have put my genius into my life but only my talen. In the secret life of oscar wilde, neil mckenna provides stunning new insight into the tumultuous sexual and psychological worlds of this brilliant and tormented. This book reads like the great tragedy wildes life was. Neil mckenna argues that our view of oscar wilde, even after ellmans magisterial volume, is determined by victorian sentimentality. This new biography could well be subtitled the wild, wild sex of oscar. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna century. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna kirkus. The double life in the importance of being earnest by. In fact, it is so scandalous that a recent exhibition of his life and legacy at the petit palais musee. Nov 30, 1991 neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde charts fully for the first time oscars astonishing erotic odyssey through victorian londons sexual.
Mckenna charts wilde s astonishing odyssey through londons sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wilde s trials for sodomy. Jad adams learns more than he needs to know about the playwrights sex life in neil mckennas the secret life of oscar wilde. Buy the secret life of oscar wilde book online at low prices. Throughout the book, doyle remains open and candid, whether shes admitting. Oscar wilde, in full oscar fingal oflahertie wills wilde, born october 16, 1854, dublin, irelanddied november 30, 1900, paris, france, irish wit, poet, and dramatist whose reputation rests on his only novel, the picture of dorian gray 1891, and on his comic masterpieces lady windermeres fan 1892 and the importance of being earnest 1895. Oscar wilde said of himself, i put all my genius into my life. He reveals his relationship with lord douglas, and tells of wilde s last days in paris. Find books like the secret life of oscar wilde from the worlds largest community of readers.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Although mckenna was clearly justified in basing a biography on wildes love of men, there are too many passages which suffer from a sort of activists monomania. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the secret life of oscar wilde.
Wildes celebrity and plays are still an irresistible lure for biographers, but in the secret life of oscar wilde can neil mckenna find anything. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna nook book. Mckenna charts wildes astonishing odyssey through londons sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wildes trials for. Mckenna charts wilde s astonishing odyssey through londons sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wilde s trials for. The circumloquant litterae oscariensis are, by any count, wildly in excess. The biggest weakness of the secret life of oscar wilde is a byproduct of its greatest strength the sheer obsessiveness with which mckenna traces the development of wilde s sexuality.
The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna penguin books. Goodreads members who liked the secret life of oscar wilde. Oscar wildes life is more scandalous today than it was during the decadence of the 1890s. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna, hardcover. Oscar wilde s unconventional life began with an equally unconventional family. The secret life of oscar wilde by neil mckenna 535pp, century. Sensational new biography of wilde based on the authors discovery of some unpublished and little known source material, relating particularly to his sex life.
Mckenna has spent years researching wildes life, drawing on extensive new material. The picture of dorian gray, moral fantasy novel by irish writer oscar wilde, published first in lippincotts monthly magazine in 1890 and as a book in 1891. The biggest weakness of the secret life of oscar wilde is a byproduct of its greatest strength the sheer obsessiveness with which mckenna traces the development of wildes sexuality. So said oscar wilde of his remarkable life a life more complex, more erotic, more troubled and more triumphant than any of his contemporaries ever knew or suspected. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display. False identities, prohibited engagements, domineering mothers, lost children are typical of almost every farce. Oscar wilde books list of books by author oscar wilde. Like a victorian pop idol, he confected a career out of at first. The picture of dorian gray is a gothic and philosophical novel by oscar wilde, first published complete in the july 1890 issue of lippincotts monthly magazine. Neil mckenna provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind wildes trials for. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public.
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