Aug 30

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was not only renowned for her powerful, groundbreaking music; she also became an icon of the civil rights movement at a crucial point in its evolution. And while she lived with the spotlight of fame trained firmly upon her, she struggled to keep her tempestuous person ... Show More

54m 43s

Aug 23

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is remembered as one of the greatest engineers of the nineteenth century. Working on a dizzying array of infrastructure projects, he pushed the boundaries of what was considered technologically possible, and drove forward Britain's industrial revolution. W ... Show More

54m 1s

Aug 16

Salvador Dalí

With his expressive face and gravity-defying moustache, Salvador Dalí is one of the most recognisable – and influential – artists of the 20th century. Famed for his paintings of melting clocks and his lobster telephone, Dalí also cultivated a larger-than-life character for himsel ... Show More

51m 37s

Mar 2018

Oscar Wilde

Even as a child, Oscar Wilde dreamed of becoming famous. We dive deep into the life of the now notorious playwright, artist, and celebrated author. He is celebrated for his passionate writing, sharp wit, and taste for art. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co ... Show More

54m 43s

Apr 2012

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, author of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Ballad of Reading Gaol, is proposed by Will Self, a writer once described as a 'high powered satirical weapon'.In 1895, and at the height of his success, Wilde began libel proceedings against the Marquess of Queensber ... Show More

28m 5s

Jun 2023

341: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Sex and Scandal (Part 1)

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” As his most popular work, "The Importance of Being Earnest", hints at, Oscar Wilde’s life was a complicated one. Perhaps the most famous gay martyr in history, Wilde is often presented as a sacrificial victim destroyed by a bigoted and ... Show More

50m 35s

Oct 2023

Two by Oscar Wilde

Today’s poems are by Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Wilde#cite_note-3">[a]</a> (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900), an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout th ... Show More

14m 49s

Jun 2023

Oscar Wilde | The Peer and The Poet | 2

Oscar Wilde is making waves in London’s literary scene, but he’s heading for disaster. He's been publicly outed by his gay lover’s father, Lord Queensberry. Homosexuality is illegal and Wilde is facing private and public ruin. So he has to make a life-changing choice: fight, o ... Show More

49m 29s

Jun 2023

342: The Trials of Oscar Wilde: Downfall and Prison (Part 2)

It’s 1895, and with the libel case brought against the Marquess of Queensbury having collapsed, Oscar Wilde is now arrested and charged with committing acts of “gross indecency”. With former lovers, hotel servants and chambermaids lining up to give evidence, and the evening paper ... Show More

45m 41s

May 2023

Oscar Wilde | Bosie | 1

It’s 1891 and Oscar Wilde’s star is rising. His book, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’, is a bestseller, and his first West End play is about to open. And then he meets Bosie Douglas, a young, handsome and beguiling poet. But homosexuality is illegal and they must keep their relat ... Show More

48m 51s

Oct 2021

353 Oscar Wilde in Prison (with Scott Carter)

Even the best biographical depictions of Oscar Wilde often skip over the years he spent in prison, perhaps because the episode is so sad and painful. But in doing so, they miss the profundity of his life and writings. In this episode, Scott Carter, author of the new play Wilde Ma ... Show More

1h 17m

Nov 2019

Series 3: Oscar Wilde

Jen Brister, Larry Dean & Esther Manito consign Oscar Wilde to the gutter or the stars.

40m 4s