Oscar Wilde - Detective! Why ? Oh why? Oh why ?

Libellus · Post by **Libellus** » 09 Apr 2008, 05:02

Oooh! My first topic - I suppose it had to happen sometime
Anyway finally got round to doing the Sunday Papers and was a little disturbed - well quite shocked actually - to find Gyles Brandreth (never liked him before this) has written a Victorian detective novel with Wilde as the central character
I dont know how this will work on any level
- I never saw Wilde as having the character to solve crimes
- I cant see how GB will handle any of the dialogue for Wilde
It just seems GB is cashing in on the name

Anyway I know you shouldnt judge things without experience (except incest and Morris Dancing, of course) but doubt I will be reading the book; however it upsets me that, for me, one of the greatest writers *ever* is to be dragged into such a sordid enterprise as the main character.

Happy to be alone in my opinion, but can anyone point out an upside to this?

saracen77 · Post by **saracen77** » 09 Apr 2008, 09:14

Libellus wrote:Anyway I know you shouldnt judge things without experience (except incest and Morris Dancing, of course)

I have no idea what to think of Gyles Brandreth (Oh, those horrible jumpers... :S) writing Wilde, but because of the above quote, I now have clean tea off my monitor.

I blame you entirely...

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 09 Apr 2008, 12:44

Libellus wrote:Oooh! My first topic - I suppose it had to happen sometime
Anyway finally got round to doing the Sunday Papers and was a little disturbed - well quite shocked actually - to find Gyles Brandreth (never liked him before this) has written a Victorian detective novel with Wilde as the central character
I dont know how this will work on any level
- I never saw Wilde as having the character to solve crimes
- I cant see how GB will handle any of the dialogue for Wilde
It just seems GB is cashing in on the name

Anyway I know you shouldnt judge things without experience (except incest and Morris Dancing, of course) but doubt I will be reading the book; however it upsets me that, for me, one of the greatest writers *ever* is to be dragged into such a sordid enterprise as the main character.

Happy to be alone in my opinion, but can anyone point out an upside to this?

You're not alone Lib

Upside for him I suppose, like you said "Oscar Wilde" as being one of the main characters! Defffffinitely gonna generate some chedder for this fella Gyles Brandreth no doubt! Indeed I'll be reading it as well, curiosity always gets my kitty...thank goodness I'm a kitty with 9 lives

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 09 Apr 2008, 15:40

Wilde is an interesting character, and he was a witty person. I would not have thought of him as being a detective, but I am curious about any story using him as a character.

Oscar Wilde did come to call himself an anarchist. And he did a two-year stint in prison. I wonder how much his politics and social non-conformity will play into a story of him as a detective.

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 09 Apr 2008, 17:15

Scott Hughes wrote:Wilde is an interesting character, and he was a witty person. I would not have thought of him as being a detective, but I am curious about any story using him as a character.

Oscar Wilde did come to call himself an anarchist. And he did a two-year stint in prison. I wonder how much his politics and social non-conformity will play into a story of him as a detective.

Indeed! That would be quite interesting I should dare say! I guess we shall see

Libellus · Post by **Libellus** » 10 Apr 2008, 08:11

Sorry about the tea Saracen - I'll go and stand in the naughty corner
..and yes the Jumpers were very hard on the eyes

Libellus · Post by **Libellus** » 10 Apr 2008, 08:23

Should have done some research before shooting from the hip.
Seems this is not the first book... and its predecessor got very good reviews
<at random> http://www.oscarwildemurdermysteries.com/reviews.html </>
.... maybe I should steel myself and read it.
On the other hand many people like Jeffrey Archer's books so may all be froth and publicity hot-air.
I think maybe a love of Wilde's work and a dislike of GB maybe conspiring against me.
I will lie down in a dark room and have a think about it all

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 10 Apr 2008, 11:39

Libellus wrote:Should have done some research before shooting from the hip.
Seems this is not the first book... and its predecessor got very good reviews
<at random> http://www.oscarwildemurdermysteries.com/reviews.html </>
.... maybe I should steel myself and read it.
On the other hand many people like Jeffrey Archer's books so may all be froth and publicity hot-air.
I think maybe a love of Wilde's work and a dislike of GB maybe conspiring against me.
I will lie down in a dark room and have a think about it all

Aww Lib

I'm going to read it, don't stay in the dark too long babe

Let me know if you decide to read it