By John Boyne
Review
This "what-if" historical novel by John Boyne paints an alternative picture of Oscar Wilde's life had he not died in November 1900 at the age of 46, penniless, in Paris. Spanning decades, Wilde encounters historical and political figures of the time and experiences events that changed the world. Its narrative is both poignant and powerful.
As with every John Boyne novel I've read, the writing is, once again, exquisite. It flows elegantly and is to be savoured. The reader is in no doubt that this is an author who can guide you through an epic journey, make you feel every emotion possible and leave you bereft when the ending is reached. I appreciated this novel for its candid exploration of what could have been but wasn't.
I'd advise going in without expectations of a fast-moving plot. It's based more on dialogue between characters than high-octane action. Oscar Wilde's life choices may not have been for everyone with his penchant for boys/men, flamboyance and eccentricities but he was undoubtedly a literary genius and cultural icon of the Victorian era.
As with every John Boyne novel I've read, the writing is, once again, exquisite. It flows elegantly and is to be savoured. The reader is in no doubt that this is an author who can guide you through an epic journey, make you feel every emotion possible and leave you bereft when the ending is reached. I appreciated this novel for its candid exploration of what could have been but wasn't.
I'd advise going in without expectations of a fast-moving plot. It's based more on dialogue between characters than high-octane action. Oscar Wilde's life choices may not have been for everyone with his penchant for boys/men, flamboyance and eccentricities but he was undoubtedly a literary genius and cultural icon of the Victorian era.
★★★★☆
Print Length: 624 pages
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Year: 2026
Publication Year: 2026
Author: John Boyne
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Synopsis
When the Marquis of Queensbury left his calling card at the Albemarle Club in February 1895, it bore only his name and five words: ‘For Oscar Wilde, posing Somdomite’. The famous playwright sued for libel, which led to his arrest, criminal prosecution and imprisonment. From then on, his gilded existence spiralled into public disgrace and an early death.
But what if he had simply ignored the insult?
Rather than dying impoverished in Paris at forty-six, what if he had lived to bear witness to the momentous events and cataclysmic changes at the start of the twentieth century, and even influence some of them? What if the second half of his life were as celebrated, dramatic and tumultuous as the first?
No comments:
Post a Comment