'The Sixteen Trees of the Somme - Lars Mytting.
What are you reading right now? Page 230
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 3rd March 2018, 12:47 AMYes, he was made for that part and did an excellent job.
Thanks for the thumbs up Herc I'll check it out. Stephen Fry seems like an obvious choice.
Quote: Kenneth @ 3rd March 2018, 4:23 AMJust read his works and letters. Robert Sherard wrote the first biography, just after Wilde died. So it''s the most contemporary, but insubstantial and he goes on about "demons" and "devilish madness" to explain homosexuality. Andre Gide (the Frog poofter pederast poet) wrote a brief but interesting memoir of his times with Wilde, omitting all the utter filth. Arthur Ransome wrote the first almost-proper biography but skips over the "vice caused by disease". Frank Harris wrote a Wilde memoir of somewhat embellished anecdotes. Hesketh Pearson wrote the first substantial Wilde biography, which is definitely worth reading. Followed by H. Montgomery Hyde's biography, which is nice and simple. Then Richard Ellmann produced the most comprehensive, authoritative and exhaustive one -- it's mostly excellent minutiae, scholarship and misery, rather than context. More recently, there was a gay-themed one by Neil McKenna, The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, which delves into all the gay stuff that earlier authors were reluctant to serve up. Best of the recent ones is Oscar Wilde: A Certain Genius by Barbara Bellford, which distills the best of the past tomes and puts things into context. There's also Wilde in America by David Friedman, which has some good stories, including the one about him being able to hold his drink better than those trying to get him plastered.
The Fry film, I couldn't sit through as Fry's acting felt wrong, but will give it another go some day. Much preferred the 1985 BBC mini-series Oscar with Michael Gambon.
I'm very grateful for such exhaustive advice Kenneth, thank-you 
There is a wealth of valuable info there to digest. You're right that first I should be reading his works and I didn't know there are collections of his letters.
His wiki page is very long but it essentially just says he became very popular in London but then after a legal battle he was sent to prison and on release moved to France where he died destitute among those he once socialised with.
Yes, in a nutshell: Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest and some other plays and some fairy tales, and a book. And he got jailed for being a gay smartarse, after which he went to Paris and croaked. Ellman biography probably too dense for modern-day goldfish attention spans, so read Belford's Wilde bio. Or if reading is too trying, just try to sit through Fry's The Importance of Being of Being Fry.
The English country gentleman chasing a fox: Somethin' that can't talk, eatin' somethin' that can't f**kin' read.
The Sixteen Trees of the Somme -Lars Mytting. Promises to be very interesting, especially as I know nothing about Norway during the war. (Note: I DO know the Somme isn't in Norway but the story seems to take in both countries, plus Scotland).
'The Silkworm' - Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling). Looks promising.
Anyone going to read Tom Bower's book on Prince Charles? Worth getting or just gutter dross hearsay?
Since I hate the monarchy I'd love to read it, but It's against my principles to fork out the money.
Quote: Briosaid @ 25th March 2018, 9:17 PMSince I hate the monarchy I'd love to read it, but It's against my principles to fork out the money.
Because you're Scotch?
Aye, that tae.
The Valachi Papers
About to start 'Unaccompanied Minor' - Alexander Newley. It's a memoir by the son of Anthony Newley and Joan Collins.
Quote: Fantasy Bazaar @ 24th September 2007, 10:51 PMAnthony Kiedis's 'Scar Tissue'...very insightful.
This book is excellent. I read it when it first came out but lacks the hilarity of The Dirt.
My friend loaned me a copy of DJ Richard Blade's autobiography. Lots of name dropping and sex stories, but I guess that's what you did when you were a popular DJ in Europe and Los Angeles 30 or 40 years ago.
Why we sleep - Matthew Walker
Having cut down on sleep to sub five hours and discovered there are consequences.. decided to do a bit of research..