Oscar Wilde E Il Sipario Strappato (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
As historical fictions go, this is a whirlwind of a collection of fascinating historical characters. While Wilde is the star, one cannot deny the allure of the other characters such as La Grange. Reading this book brings to mind the old adage: life is stranger than fiction. The perversities; absurdities of nineteenth-century France is brought to life.While the content is a good read, one does detect a certain excess in style, that borders on the edge of banality. The execution could have been more polished -- starting with a reduction of the excessive inclusion of aphorisms. The novel read like a "list of quotations" after a while.Nonetheless, this series bears much potential. Although the premise of a famous historical luminary assuming the mantle of amateur detective is nothing new, I found the idea of having Oscar Wilde as a sleuth inspired. He was famously a very witty and intelligent man, so it doesn’t take too much of a dramatic leap in thinking to suggest he had a head for solving mysteries. I thoroughly enjoyed many aspects of this book. The author does an excellent job not only with the mysteries plausibility and plotting, but with the characterisation and setting. Reading his description of Paris in the late Victorian era, it gives you an enormous sense of what it must have been like to live in such a romantic and creative community of artists, writers, poets and actors. There is also a surprisingly tragic side to the story, culminating in the abject destruction of a family’s entire way of life. The narrative, although reminiscent of many author’s attempts to emulate Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, actually works really well. The fact it isn’t from Oscar Wilde’s point of view, but from that of a young man still yet to experience all that life has to offer; means that an air of mystery surrounds everything about the great man. I imagine that this is not far away from the truth, as Oscar Wilde was such an eccentric and in some ways enigmatic person. If you are looking for historical detective fiction, that is well written and engaging, then you will love this book. I enjoyed it so much I am now scouring book shops and libraries, whenever I can for other novels in the series. I cannot sing the writer’s praises enough. We may disagree totally in our political ideals, but as a write and a reader we are most definitely compatible
What do You think about Oscar Wilde E Il Sipario Strappato (2009)?
this is a lovely book. It makes you feel as if you were part of that amazing age.
—Yohantheman
Interesting third story in this series. Looking forward to the next one.
—sbark
