Oscar Wilde: His Life and Confessions
Gelesen von Martin Geeson
Frank Harris
(4,731 Sterne; 26 Bewertungen)
Consumers of biography are familiar with the division between memoirs of the living or recently dead written by those who "knew" the subject more or less intimately, and the more objective or scholarly accounts produced by later generations.
In the case of Wilde, as presented to us by Frank Harris, we are in a way doubly estranged from the subject. We meet with Oscar the charismatic talker, whose tone of voice can never be reproduced – even if a more scrupulous biographer had set down his words accurately – and we are perhaps already aware of him as Wilde the self-destructive celebrity who uneasily fills the place of the premier gay icon and martyr in our contemporary view.
Neither of these images will do. We need to read as many accounts as possible. Harris, though himself a self-advertising literary and sexual buccaneer, takes a wincingly representative view of Wilde’s homophile activity: for him it is a patrician excrescence, the abominable vice of the few, contracted at English boarding schools – though thankfully “not infectious” as far as he himself is concerned.
What a long road we have to travel to arrive at the essentially gay man of today! But there are many shortcuts to take us back to where we came from… (Summary by Martin Geeson) (16 hr 11 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
Superb!
Daniel
(5 Sterne)
Keith Harris does an excellent job in his portrayal of his friend Mr Oscar Wilde. He not only celebrates his talents but balances this with critiques of the man both as a writer and a "personality'. The book is, in places, biased but then all biographies are naturally so inclined. Perhaps where the book best shines is in Harris' recollections of their numerous colourful and somewhat combative conversations on all matters. A thoroughly researched and great read from start to finish, documenting first the boy, the man, the society favourite, the society outcast, through to Wilde's untimely death. Martin Geeson excels even his natural vocal alchemy to turn this book into a work of art. An absolute joy!
Tom S. Blake
(5 Sterne)
Very informative read on a man determined to be Himself; learning all the time in this wonderful, bittersweet existence he became, like ALL humankind, conscious and aware of. Great write and superbly read by Martin--- love his voice and talent!
great book & great reader!
Kia'i Kealohalani
(5 Sterne)
The book itself is one of my favorite bios ever! And the readers treatment adds a whole new coloring to this insightful veiw of a beloved personage.
Jb
(5 Sterne)
This is an intimate and sympathetic description by a close friend and writer. It is well written and very well red
Wonderful
Sheila
(5 Sterne)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Five stars to the reader. Thank you Mr Geeson for yet another wonderful narration.
Frank Biography !
samantha12
(5 Sterne)
Top marks to the reader! I've been listening to these as I do my artwork.
Highest Marks for the Reader.
wagstaff
(5 Sterne)
The reader serves up a wonderful reading of this interesting history.
I adored every moment!
null
(3,5 Sterne)
A beautiful account by one of Wildes contemporaries!