Oscar Wilde: A Literary Life

by Kimberly J. Stern

Oscar A Literary Life tracks the intellectual biography of one of the most influential minds of the nineteenth century. Rather than focusing on the dramatic events of Wilde’s life, this volume documents Wilde’s impressive forays into education, religion, science, philosophy, and social reform. In so doing, it provides an accessible and yet detailed account that reflects Wilde’s own commitment to the “contemplative life.” Suitable for seasoned readers as well as those new to the study of his work, Oscar A Literary Life brings Wilde’s intellectual investments into sharp focus, while placing him within a cultural landscape that was always evolving and often fraught with contradiction.

266 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2019

Reviews

[Bo Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my master thesis, which I am writing on Wilde, I decided to read this book after it being recommended to me by my thesis supervisor and I am so glad I did!

Being a fan of Richard Ellmann's very popular biography of Wilde, I wasn't sure if would like this one as much, primarily because it is written in a very different way. Instead of following the 'classic' set-up of a biography, following Wilde from his birth until his death, Stern approached this in a very innovative and original way, by taking apart Wilde's life and oeuvre and analysing them from various perspectives, from the perspective of education, of science, of philosophy, of religion, and more, while still addressing the major events that occurred in his (very interesting) life. That is exactly what made this biography a pleasure to read in my opinion and it taught me a lot of new things about this oh so interesting figure, which I did not know about him before.

I highly recommend this biography to all fans of Wilde.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book should have been given wider scope on Wilde's intellectual interests and how that was given a basis in many of his writings. At the same time I found the introduction strangely clunky as it seemed to be a mix with the first chapter. The book does read rather like a University essay, not a book of scholarly critique, but about a first or second year University essay. The arguments were not particularly strong nor was the book very engaging. Hopefully it will inspire other books on a similar theme, however, the book Resist Everything Except Temptation: The Anarchist Philosophy of Oscar Wilde by Kristian Williams and Oscar Wilde and the Radical Politics of the Fin de Siecle by Deaglan O'Donghaile are the best two for that so far.