Oscar [electronic resource] : A Life

Sturgis, Matthew2018

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Summary

The first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years. Oscar Wilde's life – like his wit – was alive with paradox. He was both an early exponent and a victim of 'celebrity culture': famous for being famous, he was lauded and ridiculed in equal measure. His achievements were frequently downplayed, his successes resented. He had a genius for comedy but strove to write tragedies. He was an unabashed snob who nevertheless delighted in exposing the faults of society. He affected a dandified disdain but was prone to great acts of kindness. Although happily married, he became a passionate lover of men and, at the very peak of his success, he brought disaster upon himself. He disparaged authority, yet went to the law to defend his love for Lord Alfred Douglas. Having delighted in fashionable throngs, Wilde died almost alone: barely a dozen people were at his graveside. Yet despite this ruinous end, Wilde's star continues to shine brightly. His was a life of extraordinary drama and, above all, it is his refusal to conform to the social and sexual orthodoxies of his day that make him a hero and an inspiration to all who seek to challenge convention. In the first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years, Matthew Sturgis draws on new material to place the man firmly in the context of his times. He brings alive the distinctive mood and characters of the fin de siècle in the richest and fullest account of Wilde's life to date.