I’m not sure what made me not enjoy this title. It could have been the structure, the implication that it was one of Wilde’s plays or just that something was “off”. fortunately, this wasn’t a rehash of the trial and focused more on Wilde’s wife, mother, one of two children and his lover but still I found myself skimming sections because of the flowery language.

2.5 stars, rounding up to 3. Honestly, I could as easily round down to 2. The structuring was just “off,” I felt. For example, a chapter would end and the next one basically would feel like a continuation of the previous scene, so what was the point? But more importantly, fully half of the book was set several years before Wilde’s trial, at a fateful family holiday in Norfolk. This bothers me because the book is billed as being about the AFTERMATH of the scandal and trial, about the effects and aftershocks for Wilde’s family. In the end, we get comparatively little of that, which was a huge disappointment.

Some things I especially liked. Constance as much more than just the passive almost bit-player she ends up in so many of the bio-pics I’ve seen over the years. Lady Wilde written as a kind of Downton Abbey Dowager Countess, complete with great Dame Maggie Smith zingers. Also, learning more about Wilde’s sons, and getting a little of their adult lives - though NOwhere near enough, nor as much as promised. Which brings me back to my original point, the many unfulfilled promises of this book, so as I close this review, I’m going to round down to a 2-star, “It was okay” review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.