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Oscar Wilde And The Vatican Murders (2011)

by Gyles Brandreth(Favorite Author)

3.76 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

184854250X (ISBN13: 9781848542501)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

John Murray Publishers

series

The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries

review 1: Vastly superior compared to the last couple of books in this series, this one had maintained quite a grip over me for the past few days. It had Arthur Conan Doyle had its narrator, which really had improved the narrative. Also, the curious fact that the actual mystery had to be discovered by our dynamic duo through all their meanderings amidst the murky and highly suspicious ambience of the Vatican, had made the reading a delightful-yet-painstaking experience (perhaps akin to tasting Absinthe?). Nevertheless, after the 2nd book of the series, I had again found another one having repeat-reading value. Recommended.
review 2: From the other books in the series I had the most problem with this one. In fact I had to make a list just so I didn't leave anything out.... more I assumed one of the whole purpose of the collection of these stories was to bring Oscar Wilde to life as an actual person. Give him some of his mannerisms a chance to shine in the lime light of this day in age. Well this one didn't come anywhere close. I really can't see him tapping the side of his nose knowingly any more than I can picture him hooting with laughter. There also seems to be some kind of odd notion that in the 1890s Oscar Wilde was overweight and have blotchy skin. If anyone cares to look at photographs of him he's not overweight, yes he's chunkier than when he was a youth, but it's not overweight, that didn't beset him until he left prison. As for blotchy skin well in photos there would be something amiss with his complexion, there's not. The other major problem was that since he wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray (curiously failure to mention this in this book) it is extremely unlikely Conan Doyle would have much to do with Oscar. By the time it was finished and circulating as a novel his acquaintances and some friends were dropping him like a hot potato and I'm sure Conan Doyle was one of them. Having read the rare autobiography Conan Doyle was very much the Victorian gentleman prevalent of the time. The first major problem was the prologue page that has Oscar writing to his mother April 1877 saying he had an audience with the pope. Well it can be overlooked that the letter has been created from other letters, however, the issue is that he didn't actually get to Rome until May and there is no letter to say he met that pope. When he met the pope it was about 1897 and it was the successor to the pope that was in Rome in 1877. It is also a grave error to even suggest Oscar wore the same outfit on more than one occasion, even if he had limited baggage he would have found a tailor to create something new and unique. He certainly wouldn't have worn it three times! Another grave error? Which I would be surprised no one else caught was the mention of Hallowe'en. It didn't exist back then for the English and Irish. The only date recognised at that time around that date was All Saints Eve. Hallowe'en didn't come to England until after 1993 (I know this year because I was in England in 1993 and no one buy my family and I noted the day). It's doubtful that a man in his position would have even been aware of candles in hollowed out turnips, an activity for children and not of middle classes or upper classes, which was where Conan Doyle belonged. With this in mind it is unlikely therefore that Mycroft had any basis on Oscar Wilde as a character. Likewise it is unlikely that Axel Munthe had an affair with princess Victoria Baden. It's not a crime to bend the truth historically, but not so fair play with actual historical people. Another example of unfortunate truth bending is to have Oscar nervous near water? Since when? It has been documented, and no less from the collection of letters, that Oscar rowed (in college) and swam a great deal. I have never got the impression, and I don't think anyone else proclaiming (such as the writer) knowledgeable in Wildean matters, that he was ever afraid of death. Hard to believe when his sister died when he was a boy and then by his own father. He would also have been aware of the early deaths of his half-sisters and he was aware of the death of his older half-brother. Certainly living in Ireland he would have been acutely aware of death around him, even the deaths not closely related to him. In Ireland at that time death was a fact of life not to be afraid of. The haunting of the enforced famine brought upon the country was still fresh. Since his last four books I have looked upon Gyles Brandreth rather sceptically before. There are far too many times when Oscar is at a loss for words. Reading even a little of Wilde work it is extremely hard to imagine. I had even more reservations when the only lady in the book of note has the name Irene Sadler. You don't have to be a Sherlock Holmes fan to notice the all to obvious similarity in name to Irene Adler. Fortunately that is where the similarity ends. To no surprise this Irene is rather a wet blanket and quite the nuisance. Even Oscar would say she had not one redeeming feature, neither past nor future marked her out. I suppose readers would say the book was full of men if she wasn't in it! Even thought many 19th century books focused on men in the 21st century it would never do! So we have one female with nothing better to do but pop up and make Conan Doyle lukewarm under the collar (not for the real man, read his Memoirs and Adventures book. Not his thing) less

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