The Bridport Literary Festival 2018

In the first major biography of Oscar Wilde in thirty years, Matthew Sturgis brings alive the radical ideas and distinctive characters of the fin de siècle to write  the richest account of Wilde’s life to date. Wilde’s life – like his wit – was alive with paradox.  He was both an early exponent and victim of ‘celebrity culture’. Ridiculed and disparaged, his successes were resented.  He had a genius for comedy but strove to write tragedies. He was happily married and yet his love of men became his ultimate downfall.

‘I don’t regret for a single moment having lived for pleasure’

and yet Wilde died almost alone.