Constance
The Tragic and Scandalous Life of Mrs. Oscar Wilde
Published on 3. January 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-60598-520-6 (ISBN)
Description
In the spring of 1895 the life of Constance Wilde changed irrevocably.
Up until the conviction of her husband Oscar for homosexual crimes, she had held a privileged place in society. Part of a gilded couple, she was a popular children's author, a fashion icon, and a leading campaigner for women's rights. Mrs. Oscar Wilde was a phenomenon in her own right. But that spring Constance's entire life was eclipsed by scandal.
Forced to flee to the Continent with her two sons, her glittering literary and political career ended abruptly. Changing her name, she lived in exile until her death. Franny Moyle now tells Constance's story with a fresh eye and remarkable new material. Drawing on numerous unpublished letters, she brings to life the most poignant narrative of fin-de-siecle London and the Aesthetic Movement.
Up until the conviction of her husband Oscar for homosexual crimes, she had held a privileged place in society. Part of a gilded couple, she was a popular children's author, a fashion icon, and a leading campaigner for women's rights. Mrs. Oscar Wilde was a phenomenon in her own right. But that spring Constance's entire life was eclipsed by scandal.
Forced to flee to the Continent with her two sons, her glittering literary and political career ended abruptly. Changing her name, she lived in exile until her death. Franny Moyle now tells Constance's story with a fresh eye and remarkable new material. Drawing on numerous unpublished letters, she brings to life the most poignant narrative of fin-de-siecle London and the Aesthetic Movement.
Reviews / Votes
"Ms. Moyle is a strong advocate for her subject. She notes that Oscar's fairy tales center on themes of devotion and self-sacrifice, themes by which Constance lived her life." -- The Wall Street Journal "An illuminating biography." -- Colm Toibin - London Review of Books "Riveting. Moyle captures vividly the texture and color of this vital world." -- Independent on Sunday "Powerful, absorbing and, well, rather jolly." -- The Sunday TImes (London)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
16 pages of B&W photographs
Dimensions
Height: 224 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
400 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-60598-520-6 (9781605985206)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Person
Franny Moyle has a degree in English and History of Art from St John's College, Cambridge, and is the author of Desperate Romantics. She was a leading arts producer at the BBC, which culminated in her becoming the corporation's first Commissioner for Arts and Culture, and is now a freelance writer in London.