Teleny; Or, the Reverse of the Medal

by Oscar Wilde, Amanda Mordavsky Caleb (Editor)

Overview

"From the very first time I saw him, I felt that he could dive deep into my heart . . . every time he looked at me, I felt all the blood within my veins was always set aglow."

So begins the doomed love affair between Des Grieux and Teleny. Captivated at a concert by Teleny's haunting music and his hypnotic gaze, Des Grieux gradually finds himself drawn toward the handsome young man. The novel follows their relationship from Des Grieux's initial fascination with Teleny to their adventures in the orgies of the gay underworld to their eventual mutual passionate love for one another, a love that will end in tragedy.

First published anonymously in a now unobtainable edition of only 200 copies, Teleny is one of the earliest examples of gay erotica and remains one of the best. This new scholarly edition includes the unabridged text of the 1893 edition from the copy in the British Library as well as a new introduction and notes by Amanda Mordavsky Caleb. In her introduction, Caleb discusses homosexuality in Victorian England as well as the novel's preoccupation with many of the hot topics of the day, such as telepathy, hypnosis, and the paranormal. Also featured is an appendix containing a translation of French bookseller Charles Hirsch's 1934 account of the composition of the novel and the roles Oscar Wilde and others played in its genesis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934555972
Publisher:	Valancourt Books
Publication date:	06/07/2010
Series:	Valancourt Classics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	202
Sales rank:	656,335
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

The ever-quotable Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet who delighted Victorian England with his legendary wit. He found critical and popular success with his scintillating plays, chiefly The Importance of Being Earnest, while his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, scandalized readers. Imprisoned for two years for homosexual behavior, Wilde moved to France after his release, where he died destitute.

Date of Birth:

October 16, 1854

Date of Death:

November 30, 1900

Place of Birth:

Dublin, Ireland

Place of Death:

Paris, France

Education:

The Royal School in Enniskillen, Dublin, 1864; Trinity College, Dublin, 1871; Magdalen College, Oxford, England, 1874