In Search of Family in The Wildes by Louis Bayard

In Search of Family in The Wildes by Louis Bayard

From Art In Fiction by Carol M. Cram

August 31, 2025 · 24 min

About this episode

Louis Bayard discusses his novel The Wildes, exploring Oscar Wilde's family life and the challenges of writing about such a prominent figure.

Send us Fan Mail My guest today is Louis Bayard, author of The Wildes listed in the Literature category on Art In Fiction. View the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ukomPza-Oh0 Why write about Oscar Wilde through the lens of his family life?Inspiration for the novel from the memoir of Vivian Wilde, the youngest of the two sons of Oscar and Constance.Challenges of writing about one of the great wits in the English language.Structure of The Wildes as a play in five acts in a high comedy regi...

People in this episode

Host: Carol M. Cram

Guest: Louis Bayard

Topics covered

  • family
  • literature
  • Oscar Wilde
  • writing challenges
  • high comedy
  • play structure

Keywords

  • Louis Bayard
  • The Wildes
  • Oscar Wilde
  • family life
  • literature
  • writing challenges
  • high comedy

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Wildes

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