Wildeana (riverrun editions)

Oscar Wilde was known for his epigrams, paradoxes, witty aside, and extravagant conceits, and Matthew Sturgis discovered dozens of unpublished try-outs and anecdotes about him in major archives, enriching and altering the picture of his life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Oscar Wilde's early fame ensured that throughout his short life, he was the subject of numerous writings by the people he encountered. He was celebrated as the master of ingenious epigrams, provocative paradoxes, witty asides, and extravagant conceits. In his extensive research for his monumental biography of Wilde, Matthew Sturgis discovered a series of unpublished epigrams in Wilde's distinctive handwriting in every major archive. These unpublished try-outs contained fascinating new discoveries.

Sturgis uncovered dozens of unfamiliar and previously ungathered anecdotes about Wilde, providing sidelights on his days in Oxford, London, America, and Paris, as well as beyond. These anecdotes were gathered from society hostesses, men-about-town, actors, lawyers, minor litterateurs, artists, and politicians, who meticulously recorded Wilde's actions, mannerisms, and sayings.

The items in this volume are small additions to the Wilde story, some unfamiliar and others unexpected. They enrich and alter our understanding of his life, offering fresh perspectives and insights into the man and his legacy.

Weight: 186g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529406740