The Trials of Oscar Wilde Audiobook By Gyles Brandreth cover art

The Trials of Oscar Wilde

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The Trials of Oscar Wilde

By: Gyles Brandreth
Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
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About this listen

 Born in Dublin in 1854 Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was educated at Oxford where he achieved a double first. His reputation as a dramatist, poet, and novelist was established in only seven years; from his first short story "The Happy Prince" to The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895. He died in Paris in 1900 ruined by a notorious libel case and two years in Reading gaol.

On 18th February 1895, the Marquess of Queensberry left a visiting card at the Albemarle Club on which he had written: "To Oscar Wilde posing as a sodomite." The accusation led to a series of three trials and the imprisonment of Wilde. This compelling dramatic recreation has been carefully compiled from the original trial transcripts.

Performed almost entirely by Martin Jarvis taking the parts of barristers, witnesses, judge, jury, and, of course, Oscar Wilde. It captures the flavour of the trials exactly.

(P)1996, 2000 CSA Telltapes Ltd. Essays
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Martin Jarvis performs a true tour de force in this work, taking the part of every character in the play (often alternating characters line to line) and making each one a truely unique theatrical creation. If you want to hear great audio acting--this is the one for you! The play is also fascinating, having been taken directly from the records of the famous trials. Witty, engrossing, and deepy tragic, this is a superb audio performance that should please any listener. I can't recommend it too highly!

Wow! What a performance!

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Would you listen to The Trials of Oscar Wilde again? Why?

Probably not. This is mostly for true-law fans. I happen to be one, and it was worth the listen, but there's no re-listen value, as I know what happens.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

As I was interested in the trial, yes.

What aspect of Martin Jarvis’s performance would you have changed?

Nothing. Jarvis was nothing special, nothing bad.

Any additional comments?

The first trial is abridged to the prosecution's opening statement and Wilde as a witness, the second trial is just the prosecution witnesses (with a directed verdict motion), and the last trial is condensed to Wilde as defense witness, and summations. It's a short and sweet summary of the proceedings. Nothing less, nothing more.

Exactly What It Says On The Tin

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Very realistic book, but Oscar did not know when to shut his mouth. The British Justice System threw a gentle man into the Work House, and it took years off his life. His crime was loving a person.
Only under the Crown.

A Good Man Died Young

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This is NOT the book of that title by Foldy, which I have in hard copy. The recording itself proclaims (after "This is Audible"): "The Trials of Oscar Wilde. Performed by Martin Jarvis. Compiled by Gyles Brandreth from the transcripts of the three trials heard at the Central Criminal Courts in London in April and May, 1895." This is interesting and useful but not what I ordered.

Not the book by Michael S. Foldy as advertised.

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