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Oscar's Books
A fresh and delightful examination of the character of Oscar Wilde by looking at him through the prism
of the books he read.
In an entirely new kind of biography, Oscar’s Books explores the personality of Oscar Wilde through his reading. For Wilde, as for many people, reading could be as powerful and transformative an experience as falling in love. He referred to the volume...more
of the books he read.
In an entirely new kind of biography, Oscar’s Books explores the personality of Oscar Wilde through his reading. For Wilde, as for many people, reading could be as powerful and transformative an experience as falling in love. He referred to the volume...more
Paperback, 370 pages
Published
October 4th 2009
by Vintage Books
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If Peter Ackroyd's selective, deep-focus analysis of the most notable works of William Blake made for the most compelling moments in his biography of the greatest artist of the dawn of 1800s, one can't quite help but wonder; how might the same (or even nominally similar) approach have coloured Thomas Wright's exploration of greatest artist at the century's twilight?
As Wright introduces to the child fated to be known as Saint Oscar, it actually appears as if a literal, revelatory look into the li...more
As Wright introduces to the child fated to be known as Saint Oscar, it actually appears as if a literal, revelatory look into the li...more
In Oscar’s Books, Thomas Wright takes us through the life of Oscar Wilde, via the jewelled prism of his “golden books”.
For the burgeoning Wildean, this volume contains interesting facts, notes, thoughts and theories about the books that Wilde was known to be fond of, although it is worth noting that Wilde’s connection to a few books is supposed, rather than confirmed. This is not to the detriment of the book however, as throughout the tome we are encouraged to see Wilde as a creator and refiner...more
For the burgeoning Wildean, this volume contains interesting facts, notes, thoughts and theories about the books that Wilde was known to be fond of, although it is worth noting that Wilde’s connection to a few books is supposed, rather than confirmed. This is not to the detriment of the book however, as throughout the tome we are encouraged to see Wilde as a creator and refiner...more
This is a splendid book about Oscar Wilde - stylish, idiosyncratic and full of insight, much like its subject. Thomas Wright is a character who has strayed from a story Borges may have written - an obsessive Wilde-phile who has conceived the ambition to read every book Wilde ever read, and to amass a duplicate of Wilde's own book collection, either acquiring Wilde's own books where possible or books we know he read in the editions he must have owned.
But these revelations are left for last, afte...more
But these revelations are left for last, afte...more
A wonderful and finely written book about Oscar Wilde's books and how they influenced his life and work. From various sources, Thomas Wright reconstructs Oscar's shelves and reading and along these lines (literally) tells his life and story. From being exposed to rather bookish and passionate parents to discovering life through his books and using literature to woo his lovers, he constructs a new biography of Oscar Wilde that is new even to those well versed in the author's work and the story of...more
A surprising new way to know Wilde, his life through his library. But this is also a book to understand how a wonderful and special relation Oscar lived through his books.
I've enjoyed every single page from the beginning to the end.
I've enjoyed every single page from the beginning to the end.
Picked it up @ Red Bus Second Bookshopin Gerlóczy utca, tells the tale of a unique wit and an Irish bibliophile.
He's an amazing guy!
May 07, 2013
Frankie Reeves
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-actual-to-read-pile
Mar 31, 2013
Tyler Shepherd
marked it as to-read
Mar 17, 2013
Tabatha Rose
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-own,
books-about-books
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