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The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde

neil mckenna

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In The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde , Neil McKenna provides stunning new insight into the tumultuous sexual and psychological worlds of this brilliant and tormented figure. McKenna charts Wilde's astonishing odyssey through London's sexual underworld, and provides explosive new evidence of the political machinations behind Wilde's trials for sodomy. Dazzlingly written and meticulously researched, The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde offers a vividly original portrait of a troubled genius who chose to martyr himself for the cause of love between men.

576 pages, Paperback

First published November 30,1991
Literary awards
stonewall book award, randy shilts award, 
Places
london england, paris, england, 

This edition

Format
576 pages, Paperback
Published
November 7, 2006 by Basic Books
ISBN
9780465044399
ASIN
0465044395
Language
English
Characters More characters
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neil mckenna

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Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 70 votes)
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70 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Digassmen
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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This is the best biography of Wilde I have read. Less subjective than Harris',yet much more fascinating than others McKenna weaves Oscar's poems and other works through the book showing how his sexuality, passions and character went into his work. McKenna has had access to some very personal letters and documents and at no time do you doubt that is a factual account of his life and feelings with so much evidence to support it. A very enjoyable read and in fact, a page turner
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Fishymonster_
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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A fascinating look at the social climate of Oscar Wilde's time, when you could actually get imprisoned for being homosexual. It describes the rise and fall of one of the world's wittiest writers from an angle that the other biographies tend to skim over and it shows another, much more vulnerable side to this formidable man. It took me a lot shorter than i expected to get through this one!
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SinnedSaint
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Author Neil McKenna illustrates the brilliant Victorian artist unconditionally and divulges the aft shaded truths of Wilde's life that helped to sculpt his art. Through rigorous, painstaking research, obvious passion, uncensored truth, possible reverence and beautiful storytelling, McKenna makes an authentic, human portrait of an literary and cultural icon. His historical compilation and connections bring brilliant new definition to Wilde's art as well as his impact. The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde is as much a real, heart-wrenching tale of a tragically misunderstood artist as it is a fascinating historical exposition of Oscar Wilde and Victorian culture. This book compels the soul through real experiences and offers a flesh-and-blood connection and inspiration that aspiring and, especially, lost artists will cherish.
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N2ptune
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I swear, Mr. Wilde was born over a hundred years too early! He would have thrived in 2012- Paraded around as the poster child for GLAD, gay marriage, literary work, and his unparalleled wit, intelligence, fashion sense, and handsome factor.
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Protagonistah
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Rereading this brilliant book by Neil McKenna, I was struck by one overriding thought: just how unpleasant a person Oscar Wilde was. The way he treated his wife and children was nothing short of disgraceful. While his use of young men and boys - many of them 14 and 15 years-old and from impoverished backgrounds - for his own sexual gratification was scandalous. Wilde himself acknowledged this when he told one friend: 'I used to take up a boy, love him "passionately" and then grow bored with him, and often take no notice of him. That is what I regret in my past life.' All heroes have feet of clay. And no one should be punished and put in jail for having consensual sex - of whatever kind - with someone who is above the age of consent. But for a rich, powerful man in his 40s to be sleeping with 15 and 16 year-old page boys and grooms leaves a bad taste. One that is not washed away by the occasional witty epigram or beautiful sonnet. The word love is used often throughout the book, especially in regards to the feelings Wilde and Douglas had for each other. To McKenna, it was a pure and perfect idealised form; Wilde called it beautiful and noble. But even this is undermined by the personalities of both men, Douglas in particular: arrogant, vain, conceited, hot-headed, spendthrift, cruel, he was an even more objectionable figure than Wilde. I don't doubt the sincerity of the feelings. But there was a lot of intellectualising and poeticising of lust into something higher and more spiritual. When in fact what it really came down to - as McKenna concedes - was often carnality and licentiousness. Having said all this, what Wilde experienced in prison was nothing short of barbaric.
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sarahlouu12
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Boy, he was unusual, different, strange and sometimes weird, but apparently pretty well liked. Interesting.
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sammx
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I wasn´t into reading Biographies but my opinion has changed since I read this one about the Flamboyant and genius Oscar Wilde! Really enjoyable reading despite the sad end he had!
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