Isbn: 9780805089936 - Built of Books: How Reading Defined the Life of Oscar Wilde (31 results)

Hardback. Condition: Very Good. An entirely new kind of biography, Built of Books explores the mind and personality of Oscar Wilde through his taste in books This intimate account of Oscar Wilde's life and writings is richer, livelier, and more personal than any book available about the brilliant writer, revealing a man who built himself out of books. His library was his reality, the source of so much that was vital to his life. A reader first, his readerly encounters, out of all of life's pursuits, are seen to be as significant as his most important relationships with friends, family, or lovers. Wilde's library, which Thomas Wright spent twenty years reading, provides the intellectual (and emotional) climate at the core of this deeply engaging portrait. One of the book's happiest surprises is the story of the author's adventure reading Wilde's library. Reminiscent of Jorge Luis Borges's fictional hero who enters Cervantes's mind by saturating himself in the culture of sixteenth-century Spain, Wright employs Wilde as his own Virgilian guide to world literature. We come to understand how reading can be an extremely sensual experience, producing a physical as well as a spiritual delight.…

Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.

Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.…

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. First printing (complete number line) hardcover and dust jacket in VG+ condition: unmarked, slight handling. 370 pages. [1.4 lbs]. Book.

Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. 1st Edition. AS NEW HARDCOVER. AS NEW DJ.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. 1st printing. Tight and unmarked. 370pp. Very nice unclipped jacket now in a new mylar cover. Size: 8vo - 8" - 9" Tall.

Condition: very_good. This book is in Very good condition. There may be a few flaws like shelf wear and some light wear.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good +. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good +. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Bright, unmarked and unread.

Hardcover. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. First edition (first printing). Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. An entirely new kind of biography, "Built of Books" explores the mind and personality of Oscar Wilde through his taste in booksThis intimate account of Oscar Wilde's life and writings is richer, livelier, and more personal than any book available about the brilliant writer, revealing a man who built himself out of books. His library was his reality, the source of so much that was vital to his life. A reader first, his readerly encounters, out of all of life's pursuits, are seen to be as significant as his most important relationships with friends, family, or lovers. Wilde's library, which Thomas Wright spent twenty years reading, provides the intellectual (and emotional) climate at the core of this deeply engaging portrait. One of the book's happiest surprises is the story of the author's adventure reading Wilde's library. Reminiscent of Jorge Luis Borges's fictional hero who enters Cervantes's mind by saturating himself in the culture of sixteenth-century Spain, Wright employs Wilde as his own Virgilian guide to world literature. We come to understand how reading can be an extremely sensual experience, producing a physical as well as a spiritual delight.…

Hard Cover with Dustjacket. Condition: Fine-. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. First American Edition, First Printing. Hardcover with dustjacket : fine minus / very good plus. Book: spine tips slightly worn. Jacket : tiny tear and a little wrinkling to head of spine. FAE. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book. …

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Near Fine condition hardcover book, Very Good condition dust jacket. First U.S. Edition. Beautiful gilt lettering on spine, not worn. Very slight bumping to spine ends and slightest bumping to cover corners. Slightest smudging to text block edges. Dust jacket unclipped. Dust jacket has slightest shelf wear and slight bumping to edges. Two small tears to bottom edge, both less than 1/4 inch. Jacket protected by mylar. All books are individually inspected and described. Never X-Library unless specifically described as such.…

Hardcover. Condition: New. In shrink wrap.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. 8vo., 370pp. Sharp First Edition, First Printing with full number sequence. Square, tight and clean throughout with little or no wear. Equally attractive unclipped dust-jacket, ($27.00), is fresh and bright with no chipping, creases or tears. A beautiful collectable copy at a great price. …

hardcover. Condition: Like New. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition.

Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition.

hardcover. Condition: Like New. First Edition. Publisher: Henry Holt, New York, 2009. FINE hardcover book in FINE mylar-protected dust-jacket. First Edition, First Printing. As new. Pristine.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First US Edition. An exploration of the mind & personality of the brilliant British writer Oscar Wilde through his personal taste in literature, based on this author's comprehensive reading of Wilde's actual library over 20 years. In 370 pages, with black-&-white photos, Chronology of Wilde's life, Appendices & Index in rear. Orig. published in London in 2008, this is the FIRST US EDITION, First Printing, from 2009. Hardcover has black paper over quarter red paper-covered boards lettered in bright gilt to spine. Condition of both book & DJ is Fine: as clean & bright & crisp & unmarked as Brand New! DJ nicely protected in new clear mylar free! Our photos depict the exact book you will receive, never "stock" images of books we don't actually have! Same Day Shipping on orders received Weekdays before 2 pm (Pacific time); later orders, weekends, & holidays ship very next business day.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing in a like dust-jacket, each of which has two small indentations on the front surfaces and mild edgewear; In this detailed and captivating biography, Wright tells the story of Oscar Wilde, one of the most brilliant and prolific writers in English history. From his earliest years, Wilde was consumed by reading, devouring any and all books he could get his hands on. Wright explores the influence reading had on Wilde's life and work, detailing his life as a writer, his scandalous trials and tribulations, and his lasting legacy.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing that has a few pencil markings to the page edges and is housed in a Fine dust-jacket that bears negligible edgewear; This biography of Oscar Wilde tells his story through the books that influenced him most. It reveals the author's fascination with the power of reading and how it shaped Wilde's life and career.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing housed in a Fine dust-jacket that has some creasing around the upper spine; Built of Books is a biography of Oscar Wilde written by Thomas Wright. Wright takes the reader on a journey from Wilde's childhood in Ireland to his dramatic and scandalous career as a writer, speaker, and theatrical performer. Wright tells Wilde's story through his own words and those of Wilde's contemporaries, providing a unique and intimate look at one of the most influential figures in English literature.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing in a dust-jacket that is Fine excepting some wear to the upper rear edge and corners; Oscar Wilde's life was defined by reading. He read obsessively, and the love of books was embedded in his personality. Wright's book tells the story of Wilde's life through his love of reading.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing housed in a Fine dust-jacket is somewhat edgeworn; In 1891, Oscar Wilde was released from prison after serving a two-year sentence for gross indecency. On his release, he fled to France, where he wrote, directed, and starred in a production of "The Importance of Being Earnest." The success of the play led to Wilde's return to London and a comeback as a writer and speaker. In this book, Wright tells the story of Wilde's life and writing, from his days as an Irish schoolboy to his time as one of the most famous men in England. Wright examines Wilde's relationship with reading, from his love of books as a child to his fascination with the authors who influenced him. Wright also looks at Wilde's life and work in the context of Victorian England, and provides a unique perspective on the author and his work.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. An unblemished first Printing of the First Edition housed in a mildly shelfworn dust-jacket that is Fine but also has a minor crease to the upper rear edge; Oscar Wilde's life is a story of books. He was born in 1854 in Dublin, Ireland, and as a child, he was fascinated by the printed word. From an early age, Wilde was drawn to books as a source of comfort and inspiration. He read widely, absorbing the works of writers such as Shakespeare and Byron. In 1891, Wilde published his first novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which became a bestseller. The following year, he was arrested and convicted of homosexuality. Despite the persecution he endured, Wilde continued to write. His last book, De Profundis, was published posthumously in 1922. Built of Books is a loving tribute to one of the most famous authors in history and a celebration of the power of reading.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. An unblemished first Printing of the First Edition housed in a mildly shelfworn yet equally Fine dust-jacket; Wilde built his life around books. He read everything he could get his hands on, from classical Greek and Roman writers to the scandalous novels of the Victorian era. Wright tells the story of Wilde's life and his love of reading, exploring the ways in which books shaped Wilde's life and helped to define his unique style.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition; First Printing. A Fine first Edition/First Printing housed in an equally Fine dust-jacket; This book tells the story of Wilde's life through the books that he read. Wright discusses Wilde's thoughts on reading, as well as the influence that books had on his life.; 8vo; 370 pages.…

Condition: Very Good.

Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 8vo pp. 370, b/w illustrations, "This intimate account of Oscar WildeÂ's life and writings is richer, livelier, and more personal than any book available about the brilliant writer, revealing a man who built himself out of books. His library was his reality, the source of so much that was vital to his life. A reader first,. book.…