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Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal (A Gay Erotica Classic attributed to Oscar Wilde) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Forbidden Male Desire in a Decadent Victorian RomanceBy Oscar Wilde
Length8h 18m
About this audiobook
Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal is a fin-de-siècle erotic novel of obsession, secrecy, and forbidden desire, centered on the passionate attachment between Camille des Grieux and the pianist René Teleny. Written in a lush, melodramatic, and symbolist-inflected prose style, the book mingles decadent aesthetics with explicit sexual candor, making it one of the earliest English-language works to treat male homosexual passion as the governing subject of a sustained narrative. Its atmosphere belongs unmistakably to the 1890s: theatrical, sensuous, psychologically intense, and shadowed by social ruin. Though traditionally attributed to Oscar Wilde, the authorship of Teleny remains uncertain, and many scholars regard it as a collaborative or circle-produced text associated with Wilde's literary milieu rather than a securely single-authored work. Its themes nevertheless resonate with Wilde's world: aestheticism, double lives, coded desire, and the perilous gap between public respectability and private longing. The novel reflects the pressures faced by queer men in late Victorian culture, where beauty and desire could become both revelation and catastrophe. Readers interested in queer literary history, decadence, censorship, or Victorian erotic writing will find Teleny provocative and historically significant. It is not merely a curiosity of attribution, but a daring document of sexual imagination and cultural transgression.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.6 (2.7K)
Includes Goodreads
GenreRomance
Length8 hrs 18 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 10, 2013
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Teleny, or The Reverse of the Medal (A Gay Erotica Classic attributed to Oscar Wilde) (Annotated)
9CHAPTER 4
2Introduction
10CHAPTER 5
3Synopsis
11CHAPTER 6
4Historical Context
12CHAPTER 7
5Author Biography
13CHAPTER 8
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6CHAPTER 1
14Analysis
7CHAPTER 2
15Reflection
8CHAPTER 3
16Memorable Quotes
Das Gespenst von CantervilleOscar Wilde1h 19m$6 · $0.00
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Das Gespenst von CantervilleOscar Wilde1h 34m4.1 (242.5K)$1 · $0.00
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The Canterville GhostOscar Wilde1h 20m4.1 (132.7K)$10 · $0.00
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Der glückliche Prinz und andere Märchen (Kommentiert)Oscar Wilde6h 56m$1 · $0.00
Her Duty Bound DefenderSharee Stover6h 30m4.6 (559)$12 · $0.00
Defending from DangerJodie Bailey5h 46m4.6 (588)$24 · $0.00
White HotIlona Andrews13h 18m4.5 (136.9K)$5 · $0.00
Explosive RevengeMaggie K. Black6h 18m4.6 (545)$12 · $0.00
Her Brand of JusticeB.J. Daniels6h 48m4.6 (1.3K)$12 · $0.00
Search And DetectTerri Reed5h 51m4.6 (706)$24 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
Danger in the WildernessDarlene L. Turner6h 54m4.7 (299)$12 · $0.00
Yukon JusticeDana Mentink6h 15m4.6 (751)$12 · $0.00
The Rogue WarriorCindy Roland Anderson5h 44m4.6 (410)$17 · $0.00
Trail Of ThreatsJessica R. Patch5h 47m4.6 (425)$24 · $0.00
Ironwood, a Fae Universe SeriesAlessa Thorn26h 57m4.6 (835)$30 · $0.00
Ready to ProtectValerie Hansen5h 38m4.6 (981)$24 · $0.00
Searching For EvidenceCarol J. Post6h 21m4.6 (552)$24 · $0.00
New Beginnings at Lullbury BayGeorgia Hill6h 59m4.6 (423)$13 · $0.00
Hiding in MontanaLaura Scott6h 18m4.6 (1K)$12 · $0.00
Christmas K-9 Unit HeroesLenora Worth, Katy Lee5h 51m4.6 (507)$24 · $0.00
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