The first book (Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders in the UK or Oscar Wilde and a Death of No Importance in the US) even stars a familiar face here at Criminal Element—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! He functions as Wilde’s Watson, if you will.
I haven’t read these yet, but I have already downloaded the first one and I can tell you what I’ll be doing this weekend. What do you think of the idea of Wilde as a detective?
I actually read the one with Conan Doyle. Very witty and I loved how Wilde’s character was conflicted, loyal, late-sleeping, beauty-loving, and dangerously brilliant simultaneously. Conan Doyle is the stolid Scot, almost a Watson in this one. Lots of fun!
I am SO embarrassed! It was actually Clare who mentioned this to me, and Chris who went out and found it for me. Let me hide my head in shame!
I think of Wilde often. First, because he frequently lived up to his name, and how entertaining is that? Second, because he said (and I am paraphrasing here) I worked on a poem all morning and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back. When I am editing obsessively, I think of that quote, and laugh at myself for having a “Wilde” monent (or day or week) and I stop obsessing. I’ll have to read these.
I think he’d make a great character and I’m interested to read these books. I might try a non-Vampire book first.
I’ve read the first two of these, and they’re quite good. Brandreth’s Wilde is plausible as a person and as a detective.