Book Review: The Last Days of Oscar Wilde by John Vanderslice

About:
The Last Days of Oscar Wilde by John Vanderslice is a novel set in 1898 Paris (mostly) imaging the days before the famous author died. Mr. Vanderslice is a prolific writer and University teacher from Maryland.

• 358 pages
• Publisher: Burlesque Press, LLC
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0996485090

My rating for The Last Days of Oscar Wilde – 4
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Thoughts:
The first thing I noticed when reading The Last Days of Oscar Wilde by John Vanderslice is how elegant the writing in this novel is, sorrowful but not depressing. I admit that I don’t know much about Oscar Wilde’s life beside the bullet points (writings, jail, etc.), so getting a glimpse at his last days through this novel was enlightening.

Oscar Wilde lived as a public disgrace in Paris, after being jailed in England for a homosexual scandal.  Few friends remained loyal to the author, this book shows the reader the relationship of those friends to the infamous Mr. Wilde. Even though a successful author, Mr. Wilde was living in poverty, not able to even buy a mean since he stopped working.

The whole book Mr. Wilde searching for inner peace. No matter where he goes, what he tries, and who he meets, this search is front and center during the narrative. As his depression and desperation grows, Mr. Wilde turns to religion, refusing to admit it but keeping his sardonic wits about him.

Even though some of the book is depressing, the depiction of the last days of the author especially, it is still an experience. One could almost feel themselves in the same filth hotel room, watching Oscar Wilde’s life slip away without being able to help.

Mr. Vanderslice, obviously a fan of Mr. Wilde, wrote this book as an homage to a literary giant that he should be proud of.

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Zohar — Man of la Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book for free.
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