
A vivid, first‑hand portrait emerges from this intimate biography, where the author, a longtime confidant, guides listeners through the early brilliance of a man whose wit dazzled salons and newspapers alike. The narrative sketches Wilde’s formative years, his meteoric rise in literary circles, and the magnetic charm that made him a celebrated social figure long before controversy loomed.
Beyond the glitter of public acclaim, the account delves into the tensions between his flamboyant persona and the rigid moral codes of Victorian England. It examines the passionate friendships, the artistic daring, and the simmering legal and societal pressures that began to shape his destiny. Listeners will gain a nuanced sense of a genius whose very brilliance set the stage for the tragic drama that would later unfold, all rendered with the author’s candid, unapologetic voice.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (393K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Linda Cantoni, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2005-10-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1856–1931
A restless, outspoken literary figure, this Irish-born writer and editor was known for turning his own turbulent life into vivid memoirs and controversy. He moved through the worlds of journalism, fiction, and criticism with a reputation for fearless opinions and larger-than-life storytelling.
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