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Read this when it came out and wasn't especially enthused, despite the positive reviews. But in terms of topic, it seems like it's worth revisiting for possible use in a class, so I'm re-reading.
I've always been intrigued by Wilde's story, but haven't read anything by him. I hear his letters are better than his official works.Silent Majority wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 5:54am46) De Profundis - Oscar Wilde. Audiobook, read by the great actor (but always villainous sounding) Simon Russell Beale, who I mostly associate with a part he never played (Pitt the Younger in Blackadder III) and Beria in Death of Stalin. This is a beautifully written paean to pain, to suffering. Wilde's ever certain of his genius, of his contribution to mankind, and the reasons for his downfall. I usually recoil from that level of self-belief, but in this case, it's at the center of what made this man a great writer. What comes through, stronger than anything else, is the emotional truth of a toxic relationship that would wreck Wilde's life and hasten him onto an early death. For anyone not familiar, this is a long form letter written from Reading Gaol, to Bosie, Sir Alfred Douglas, the young man who's father chased Oscar behind bars. I checked out his wikipedia entry to see if he wised up any further in life, but he seemed to remain the same callow pretty boy until he died in 1945, with a few flirtations into fascism along the way. Wilde, with a vivid and artistic articulacy, plumbs the depths of emotion and it's a piece that lifts you from the darkness even as it explains that absence of light. Bonus points for his approval of Kropotkin - Wilde calls the anarchist one of only two truly happy men that he ever met.
Give this one a try, I say.Kory wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 12:33pmI've always been intrigued by Wilde's story, but haven't read anything by him. I hear his letters are better than his official works.Silent Majority wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 5:54am46) De Profundis - Oscar Wilde. Audiobook, read by the great actor (but always villainous sounding) Simon Russell Beale, who I mostly associate with a part he never played (Pitt the Younger in Blackadder III) and Beria in Death of Stalin. This is a beautifully written paean to pain, to suffering. Wilde's ever certain of his genius, of his contribution to mankind, and the reasons for his downfall. I usually recoil from that level of self-belief, but in this case, it's at the center of what made this man a great writer. What comes through, stronger than anything else, is the emotional truth of a toxic relationship that would wreck Wilde's life and hasten him onto an early death. For anyone not familiar, this is a long form letter written from Reading Gaol, to Bosie, Sir Alfred Douglas, the young man who's father chased Oscar behind bars. I checked out his wikipedia entry to see if he wised up any further in life, but he seemed to remain the same callow pretty boy until he died in 1945, with a few flirtations into fascism along the way. Wilde, with a vivid and artistic articulacy, plumbs the depths of emotion and it's a piece that lifts you from the darkness even as it explains that absence of light. Bonus points for his approval of Kropotkin - Wilde calls the anarchist one of only two truly happy men that he ever met.
It sounds really good. I think I will.Silent Majority wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 2:02pmGive this one a try, I say.Kory wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 12:33pmI've always been intrigued by Wilde's story, but haven't read anything by him. I hear his letters are better than his official works.Silent Majority wrote: ↑13 Aug 2019, 5:54am46) De Profundis - Oscar Wilde. Audiobook, read by the great actor (but always villainous sounding) Simon Russell Beale, who I mostly associate with a part he never played (Pitt the Younger in Blackadder III) and Beria in Death of Stalin. This is a beautifully written paean to pain, to suffering. Wilde's ever certain of his genius, of his contribution to mankind, and the reasons for his downfall. I usually recoil from that level of self-belief, but in this case, it's at the center of what made this man a great writer. What comes through, stronger than anything else, is the emotional truth of a toxic relationship that would wreck Wilde's life and hasten him onto an early death. For anyone not familiar, this is a long form letter written from Reading Gaol, to Bosie, Sir Alfred Douglas, the young man who's father chased Oscar behind bars. I checked out his wikipedia entry to see if he wised up any further in life, but he seemed to remain the same callow pretty boy until he died in 1945, with a few flirtations into fascism along the way. Wilde, with a vivid and artistic articulacy, plumbs the depths of emotion and it's a piece that lifts you from the darkness even as it explains that absence of light. Bonus points for his approval of Kropotkin - Wilde calls the anarchist one of only two truly happy men that he ever met.
I am definitely reading this. The man is hilarious and sketch show sublime.Silent Majority wrote: ↑15 Aug 2019, 4:53pm47) Surprising Down to Earth and Very Funny - Limmy. Audiobook, read in beautiful thick Glaswegian by the author. I like LImmy, the ex-alky, ex druggie, comedian with suicidal tendencies and a weird sketch show. He tells his life story in little bursts, like short stories, slowly taking him from getting pissed and sleeping in offices to meetings with posh English BBC executives with a sense of inferiority, to (least interestingly) fatherhood. I really enjoyed this book, I blasted through its eight hours in about two or three days. I recommend it.
Here's his sketch show.
I'd love to read that.
Got that one a great read.