Overview
InĀ September of 1892, Oscar Wilde and his familyĀ retreated to the idyllic Norfolk countryside for a holiday. His wife, Constance, has every reason to be happy: two beautiful sons, a stellar reputation as an advocate for progressive causes, and a delightfully charmingĀ and affectionate husband and father, who is perhaps the most famous man in England. But as an assortment of houseguests arrive, including an aristocratic young wannabe poet named Lord Alfred Douglas, Constance graduallyāand then all at onceācomes to see that her husband's heart is elsewhere and that the growing intensity between the two men threatens the whole foundation of their lives.
The Wildes: A Novel in Five ActsĀ revolves around that fateful summer: what happened, and what might have been. When it was exposed, Oscar's affair with Lord Alfred DouglasāBosie, as he was knownāled to Wilde's imprisonment for homosexuality, and the financial and emotional ruin of his family. In Act Two, Bayard revealsĀ Constance and their sons, Cyril and Vyvyan,Ā in exile, forced to sell their possessions, leave England, and hide their identities. ActĀ Three, from the perspective of Cyril, brings readers into the French trenches of World War I, where Cyril must grapple with the kind of man he wants to become,Ā while Act Four reveals Vyvyan in London, years after the war, searching for answers from those who knew his parents. And in a brilliant act of the imagination, Act Five brings the entire cast back together in a surprising, poignant, and tremendously satisfying tableau.Ā
With Louis Bayard's trademark sparkling dialogue, paired with his deep insight into the lives and longings of all his charactersāand based on real eventsāTheĀ WildesĀ could almost have been created by Oscar Wilde himself:Ā lightly told but with hidden depths, it is an entertaining and dramaticĀ story about the human condition.Ā
This book title, The Wildes (A Novel in Five Acts), ISBN: 9781643755304, by Louis Bayard, published by Algonquin Books (September 17, 2024) is available in hardcover. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer The Wildes (A Novel in Five Acts) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order The Wildes (A Novel in Five Acts) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!