From fame to shame, the life of Oscar Wilde continues to fascinate us, posing questions, curious difficulties, and mysteries for modern readers.

Far from being a well-worn tale, poets, playwrights, novelists, and screenwriters are compelled to re-tell his story, reinventing him as tragic hero, fool for love, Irish rebel, Queer icon, and martyr for the name of art.

Come and explore, debate, discuss an range of modern literature about Wilde. Primarily focusing on David Hare’s The Judas Kiss, Moises Kauffmann’s Gross Indecency, Leslie and Sewell Stokes’ Oscar Wilde, and Micheál Mac Liammóir’s one-man play The Importance of Being Oscar, we’ll also look at poems by John Betjeman and Paul Muldoon,  excerpts from novels by Peter Ackroyd and Neil Bartlett, and scenes from other plays and screenplays.

Writers have reclaimed the name of Wilde from an unspeakable word and propelled it into enduring global stardom. The course asks: ‘What lies behind this intriguing cultural phenomenon?’ ‘What’s at the crux of these representations of his life?’ ‘What motivates artists to tell the tale again and again?’

Courses are open to all. New participants are welcome. Classes run on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00 to 12:00. The course runs for 10 weeks in total. 

Term will start on April 16th and 17th until May 21st and 22nd, breaking for half-term week on May 28th and 29th, and resuming on June the 4th and 5th, and ending on July the 2nd and 3rd.

Some resources will be provided as photocopies.

alexander@thatliteratureguy.com