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The Weight of Angels
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75 copies available
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Can one rash decision prove the difference between a life well lived and a life destroyed?
When the Marquess of Queensberry left his calling card at the Albemarle Club in February 1895, it bore only his name and five words: “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite.” The most celebrated playwright of his day famously sued for libel, which led to his arrest, criminal prosecution, and ultimately prison. From then on, his gilded existence spiraled into public disgrace, humiliation, and an early death.
But what if he had simply ignored the insult? What direction might his life have taken? This is the premise of John Boyne’s extraordinary new novel, The Weight of Angels. Rather than dying in penury in Paris at age forty-six, what if Wilde had lived to bear witness to the momentous events and cataclysmic changes of the first part of the twentieth century, and even influence some of them? What if the second half of his life were as dramatic, tumultuous, and exhilarating as the first?
In imagining the life that Oscar Wilde never had, John Boyne has written one of the great what-if stories of modern literature, giving the iconic Anglo-Irish poet and playwright a fresh new voice and the opportunity to take an entirely different path.
When the Marquess of Queensberry left his calling card at the Albemarle Club in February 1895, it bore only his name and five words: “For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite.” The most celebrated playwright of his day famously sued for libel, which led to his arrest, criminal prosecution, and ultimately prison. From then on, his gilded existence spiraled into public disgrace, humiliation, and an early death.
But what if he had simply ignored the insult? What direction might his life have taken? This is the premise of John Boyne’s extraordinary new novel, The Weight of Angels. Rather than dying in penury in Paris at age forty-six, what if Wilde had lived to bear witness to the momentous events and cataclysmic changes of the first part of the twentieth century, and even influence some of them? What if the second half of his life were as dramatic, tumultuous, and exhilarating as the first?
In imagining the life that Oscar Wilde never had, John Boyne has written one of the great what-if stories of modern literature, giving the iconic Anglo-Irish poet and playwright a fresh new voice and the opportunity to take an entirely different path.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
John Boyne
74 books16.6k followersI was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
I don't know if it was a wise decision to have John Boyne's latest historical fiction as my second ever read of his, but as someone who has read a few of Oscar Wilde's works, the idea that had I made a different decision, my entire life might have taken a different course certainly sounded intriguing. After the point that would've been the end of Wilde's life, I paused my reading and did a quick Wikipedia read to get a brief insight into true historical facts. It certainly helped a little bit along the way to see how real-life personal events would make their appearance.
And it is an ambitious and creative alternate reality about the life that could've been. But, in attempting to cover such an expansive range, I found it difficult to be immersed in or care about any of the meet-and-greets. Hollywood bored me; some persons mattered little, and it was also aggravating that in the moments that deserved some emotional depth, as in some actual response from Wilde, the author switched to either meta snippets (letters or plays) or time jumps.
Where I could have gone into the heart of Oscar's emotions, it avoided that deep dive, dodging the emotional stages by switching to a different perspective to relay the moments. The painful parts never allowed us to fully feel the weight of certain losses. His admitted folly, the lusting desire for younger men, seemed to merit more of a mention, which makes me wonder, was it deliberate to put him in a bad light or silently admonishing him for his past urges that led to Bosie's eventual fate—the person who replaced him in fiction over reality?
“Love was hard found, after all, and should never be taken for granted.”
It was odd that I only really felt something with Oscar's scenes with Bosie, almost as if there was guilt for having him replace him as the one convicted of the crime he committed. The real-life person - not so much deserving. However, this fight for gay love being recognized and accepted is one of the prevailing themes that follows Wilde over the course of history, amidst his past follies—that not speaking up or taking action is in its own way denying his own existence as a gay man.
The continuous allusion to certain older men's penchant for younger men, if not boys, either for their flattery and admiration or simply companionship, was often perplexing and unnerving, if not sometimes unnecessary. If there was a valid reason, I wasn't able to find it. There was also one totally unrelated bathroom encounter that I could have lived without; I just could not understand the need for its inclusion. It may seem like I'm the kind of person who clutches her pearls at the slightest indecency, which I'm not, but I just saw no reason for it...
“Lengthy novels, I feel, are so self-indulgent. Can it really take six hundred pages to tell a story?”
I couldn't decide if this is sarcasm or some clever tongue-in-cheek from JB addressing the daunting and exhausting length of his own novel. (As if my review isn't exceeding the limits of what a review should be!) While I understand the need to cover a great length of his life had it lived, no way was there any real reason to have it span more than a half a century to allow him the window of opportunity to converse with and encounter various famous figures along the way - an impressive blend of notable literary, political, cultural, and historical figures of the arts and their illustrious careers.
But my heart never felt for these characters that popped in and out. I was never allowed enough time for the feelings and emotions to develop; rather, I was inundated with various vignettes of conversations and meetings, overwhelmed with pithy dialogue and candid smartness. Wilde's own influence and contribution as the years progressed were always depicted with a stifled hand, almost as if even with the what-if scenario, it didn't allow him to have that much of a say. Never an active participant, but restrained, simply watching from the sidelines where everything really is just a matter of opinion with words.
“I wanted to be a writer. And I became a writer. That is how I spent my life. Sometimes loved; sometimes scolded. Sometimes celebrated. Sometimes loathed. Sometimes a force for change; sometimes my own worst enemy. But I was always read.”
Through a lifetime of arguments, laughter, accusations, recriminations, there were some personal relationships that felt sincere and believable. Moments that made me chuckle at the subtle jabs at certain relevant persons; the slight humor in which Oscar poked fun at himself; the referral to the weight of angels that echoed his own heartache and regret, which made my own ache, as well.
It was his final deliverance that yielded his innermost truths that captured the longing for an acceptance of an intimacy so innate that to simply be criminalized for a reciprocal love between men who both desired and treasured each other is actually the only offense, one that serves as a bittersweet reminder of how opinions still have not changed entirely even today.
And what triumphs over all my gripes is the preservation of his legacy - that he's more than just a name but a voice that survives. The worth of his literary contribution continues to draw audiences to witness and indulge in the wit and charm that made him the irrevocable and widely regarded and quoted Oscar Wilde.
P.S. A strange thing to point out, but I was happy to find some editing errors. Yes, I know it shouldn't matter in an ARC, but idk, I found it humbling...
“I'll be remembered long after I'm gone.”
I don't know if it was a wise decision to have John Boyne's latest historical fiction as my second ever read of his, but as someone who has read a few of Oscar Wilde's works, the idea that had I made a different decision, my entire life might have taken a different course certainly sounded intriguing. After the point that would've been the end of Wilde's life, I paused my reading and did a quick Wikipedia read to get a brief insight into true historical facts. It certainly helped a little bit along the way to see how real-life personal events would make their appearance.
And it is an ambitious and creative alternate reality about the life that could've been. But, in attempting to cover such an expansive range, I found it difficult to be immersed in or care about any of the meet-and-greets. Hollywood bored me; some persons mattered little, and it was also aggravating that in the moments that deserved some emotional depth, as in some actual response from Wilde, the author switched to either meta snippets (letters or plays) or time jumps.
Where I could have gone into the heart of Oscar's emotions, it avoided that deep dive, dodging the emotional stages by switching to a different perspective to relay the moments. The painful parts never allowed us to fully feel the weight of certain losses. His admitted folly, the lusting desire for younger men, seemed to merit more of a mention, which makes me wonder, was it deliberate to put him in a bad light or silently admonishing him for his past urges that led to Bosie's eventual fate—the person who replaced him in fiction over reality?
“Love was hard found, after all, and should never be taken for granted.”
It was odd that I only really felt something with Oscar's scenes with Bosie, almost as if there was guilt for having him replace him as the one convicted of the crime he committed. The real-life person - not so much deserving. However, this fight for gay love being recognized and accepted is one of the prevailing themes that follows Wilde over the course of history, amidst his past follies—that not speaking up or taking action is in its own way denying his own existence as a gay man.
The continuous allusion to certain older men's penchant for younger men, if not boys, either for their flattery and admiration or simply companionship, was often perplexing and unnerving, if not sometimes unnecessary. If there was a valid reason, I wasn't able to find it. There was also one totally unrelated bathroom encounter that I could have lived without; I just could not understand the need for its inclusion. It may seem like I'm the kind of person who clutches her pearls at the slightest indecency, which I'm not, but I just saw no reason for it...
“Lengthy novels, I feel, are so self-indulgent. Can it really take six hundred pages to tell a story?”
I couldn't decide if this is sarcasm or some clever tongue-in-cheek from JB addressing the daunting and exhausting length of his own novel. (As if my review isn't exceeding the limits of what a review should be!) While I understand the need to cover a great length of his life had it lived, no way was there any real reason to have it span more than a half a century to allow him the window of opportunity to converse with and encounter various famous figures along the way - an impressive blend of notable literary, political, cultural, and historical figures of the arts and their illustrious careers.
But my heart never felt for these characters that popped in and out. I was never allowed enough time for the feelings and emotions to develop; rather, I was inundated with various vignettes of conversations and meetings, overwhelmed with pithy dialogue and candid smartness. Wilde's own influence and contribution as the years progressed were always depicted with a stifled hand, almost as if even with the what-if scenario, it didn't allow him to have that much of a say. Never an active participant, but restrained, simply watching from the sidelines where everything really is just a matter of opinion with words.
“I wanted to be a writer. And I became a writer. That is how I spent my life. Sometimes loved; sometimes scolded. Sometimes celebrated. Sometimes loathed. Sometimes a force for change; sometimes my own worst enemy. But I was always read.”
Through a lifetime of arguments, laughter, accusations, recriminations, there were some personal relationships that felt sincere and believable. Moments that made me chuckle at the subtle jabs at certain relevant persons; the slight humor in which Oscar poked fun at himself; the referral to the weight of angels that echoed his own heartache and regret, which made my own ache, as well.
It was his final deliverance that yielded his innermost truths that captured the longing for an acceptance of an intimacy so innate that to simply be criminalized for a reciprocal love between men who both desired and treasured each other is actually the only offense, one that serves as a bittersweet reminder of how opinions still have not changed entirely even today.
And what triumphs over all my gripes is the preservation of his legacy - that he's more than just a name but a voice that survives. The worth of his literary contribution continues to draw audiences to witness and indulge in the wit and charm that made him the irrevocable and widely regarded and quoted Oscar Wilde.
P.S. A strange thing to point out, but I was happy to find some editing errors. Yes, I know it shouldn't matter in an ARC, but idk, I found it humbling...
Review of advance copy
John Boyne has written a sweeping speculative historical novel about Oscar Wilde, imagining his life if he had not pursued the libel suit that led to his imprisonment and untimely death. Boyne speculates about what Wilde's life would have been in the twentieth century where he would have witnessed two world wars, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth and mingled with Hollywood society. Throughout the book we are aware of Wilde's sharp wit, his deep insecurities, and his consuming guilt about his inadequacies as a husband and father. Wilde is conflicted about living a life that brings shame and prison time to men who share his proclivities, while he remains unprosecuted. The angels whose weight he bears are those whom he feels he has failed. The title is genius.
As always, Boyne's prose is flawless. This book is a departure from his previous literary fiction but contains the same in-depth character depiction. It caused me to explore more about Oscar Wilde and wonder with John Boyne what the world may have lost with his death. I am grateful to Librarything and the publisher for this ARC by this incomparable author.
As always, Boyne's prose is flawless. This book is a departure from his previous literary fiction but contains the same in-depth character depiction. It caused me to explore more about Oscar Wilde and wonder with John Boyne what the world may have lost with his death. I am grateful to Librarything and the publisher for this ARC by this incomparable author.
April 17, 2026
"Please, call me Oscar. All my enemies do.”
Before picking up The Weight of Angels, I knew next to nothing about Oscar Wilde’s personal life. After finishing it, I feel like an expert, despite the fact that this book is a reimagining of history. John Boyne explores a fascinating premise: What if Wilde had never spent those two torturous years in prison for his sexuality and didn't pass away as early as he did?
Boyne is a masterclass in writing. This 600-page clunker is essentially one long, brilliant conversation between Wilde and a rotating cast of historical icons. While the dialogue is brilliant, the epistolary sections were the true highlight for me. These letters provided an intimate, raw glimpse into Wilde’s mind that even the grandest dinner party conversations couldn't capture. I found myself in the room with figures I previously only knew from history books, including:
Katherine Hepburn
Bram & Florence Stoker (is it Dracula or Dribula?)
W.B. Yeats (Willie)
Winston Churchill
Rudyard Kipling
Sir Conan Doyle
The book serves as a rich historical tapestry viewed through Wilde’s eyes, spanning from the late 1890s to the mid-1950s. You witness the world change through two World Wars and the birth of new technologies, all while feeling like a literal fly on the wall during champagne soaked discussions of art and global affairs.
“We will drink champagne together, publicly, and discuss global affairs with the intelligence and wit for which we are both celebrated. Then we will make cruel comments about casual acquaintances, focusing on their hairstyles, which we secretly admire, and their infidelities, which we secretly envy.”
Yet, beneath the humor lies a profound sadness. The book highlights the enduring hatred directed toward the gay community, making Wilde’s search for reciprocal love feel both beautiful and tragic.
“A reciprocal love between men who both desired and treasured each other. Even the idea made him feel a wealth of sorrow, for such contentment, he was certain, would surely be impossible to find.”
If I’m being honest, there were times I felt the book might be, too smart for me. At 600 pages, I occasionally found myself confused or drifting, but I recognize that as a personal hurdle rather than a flaw in Boyne’s writing.
Regardless of the length, the book is a treasure trove of quotable gems.
“Happiness, like grammar, are overrated.”
"The modern world is riddled with hypocrisy, and it’s not just the men who suffer.”
"One must never remain too long in the city of one’s birth; it’s so much more romantic to live in exile.”
If Oscar Wilde is your favorite historical figure, this book will be a dream read. It is a stunning tribute to, what could have been, and I suspect Wilde himself would have absolutely loved it.
Thank you Henry Holt for the advanced copy!
Before picking up The Weight of Angels, I knew next to nothing about Oscar Wilde’s personal life. After finishing it, I feel like an expert, despite the fact that this book is a reimagining of history. John Boyne explores a fascinating premise: What if Wilde had never spent those two torturous years in prison for his sexuality and didn't pass away as early as he did?
Boyne is a masterclass in writing. This 600-page clunker is essentially one long, brilliant conversation between Wilde and a rotating cast of historical icons. While the dialogue is brilliant, the epistolary sections were the true highlight for me. These letters provided an intimate, raw glimpse into Wilde’s mind that even the grandest dinner party conversations couldn't capture. I found myself in the room with figures I previously only knew from history books, including:
Katherine Hepburn
Bram & Florence Stoker (is it Dracula or Dribula?)
W.B. Yeats (Willie)
Winston Churchill
Rudyard Kipling
Sir Conan Doyle
The book serves as a rich historical tapestry viewed through Wilde’s eyes, spanning from the late 1890s to the mid-1950s. You witness the world change through two World Wars and the birth of new technologies, all while feeling like a literal fly on the wall during champagne soaked discussions of art and global affairs.
“We will drink champagne together, publicly, and discuss global affairs with the intelligence and wit for which we are both celebrated. Then we will make cruel comments about casual acquaintances, focusing on their hairstyles, which we secretly admire, and their infidelities, which we secretly envy.”
Yet, beneath the humor lies a profound sadness. The book highlights the enduring hatred directed toward the gay community, making Wilde’s search for reciprocal love feel both beautiful and tragic.
“A reciprocal love between men who both desired and treasured each other. Even the idea made him feel a wealth of sorrow, for such contentment, he was certain, would surely be impossible to find.”
If I’m being honest, there were times I felt the book might be, too smart for me. At 600 pages, I occasionally found myself confused or drifting, but I recognize that as a personal hurdle rather than a flaw in Boyne’s writing.
Regardless of the length, the book is a treasure trove of quotable gems.
“Happiness, like grammar, are overrated.”
"The modern world is riddled with hypocrisy, and it’s not just the men who suffer.”
"One must never remain too long in the city of one’s birth; it’s so much more romantic to live in exile.”
If Oscar Wilde is your favorite historical figure, this book will be a dream read. It is a stunning tribute to, what could have been, and I suspect Wilde himself would have absolutely loved it.
Thank you Henry Holt for the advanced copy!
Want to Read
June 7, 2026What if the author and playwright Oscar Wilde had never gone to prison? What if he didn't fall into disgrace, and instead lived into the 20th century, experiencing all of the changes that came with it? That's what this new historical novel imagines, and as a massive Wilde fan, I only wish it could have been the reality.
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026Early I enjoyed Oscar Wilde's voice, which seems so genuine and clear in this novel. Much of the novel is dialogue, conversations between Wilde and his gay friends, talking about their gay friends. It allows Wilde's wit to shine.
But it also didn't keep my interest.
I was also disturbed by the references to the 'boys', mostly faceless sex workers. There is little sympathy for their plight. The age was rife with sex workers of both sexes, reduced to the work by poverty. But these 'gentlemen' took advantage of their services with little concern.
I decided not to finish the novel.
But it also didn't keep my interest.
I was also disturbed by the references to the 'boys', mostly faceless sex workers. There is little sympathy for their plight. The age was rife with sex workers of both sexes, reduced to the work by poverty. But these 'gentlemen' took advantage of their services with little concern.
I decided not to finish the novel.
Did Not Finish
August 12, 2026DNF @15%. Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
I'm not truly sure what it is about this book that didn't work with me. I did not like a few aspects, specially with how women were written: even in their POVs, it was so stiflingly focused on men (also hated the young poor boys falling into bed with these old gentlemen, but I can't say if something was made out of it later on, though I doubt it). Maybe I just don't think that Oscar Wilde, despite his talents, is a proper character for me to read 600 pages about. I was bored; he was boring. Maybe reading the speculative possible problems of an aristocratic man, even if a gay one, is not it for me. Sad, I really wanted to like this.
I'm not truly sure what it is about this book that didn't work with me. I did not like a few aspects, specially with how women were written: even in their POVs, it was so stiflingly focused on men (also hated the young poor boys falling into bed with these old gentlemen, but I can't say if something was made out of it later on, though I doubt it). Maybe I just don't think that Oscar Wilde, despite his talents, is a proper character for me to read 600 pages about. I was bored; he was boring. Maybe reading the speculative possible problems of an aristocratic man, even if a gay one, is not it for me. Sad, I really wanted to like this.
August 4, 2026
This is John Boyne at his ultimate best! I’ve adored every book I’ve read by this author, but this one is something which I think is very special indeed.
It’s a book which asks the question: what if Oscar Wilde hadn’t died at the age of 46, in 1900, but lived on? In a narrative which runs from 1895 to 1953, we read Wilde’s story - as imagined by Boyne - and what a credible and compassionate one it is!
I love the way the narrative has been woven around the main events from the first half of the 20th century, alongside a myriad of personalities from that time - incorporating those who were ‘freer’ thinkers, and those who weren’t. It’s also a story of the plight of men who love men, and the battle to repeal the laws which criminalised sexual activity between them.
The narrative includes conversations, letters, newspaper extracts and a couple of scenes set out as short play scripts. We hear from royalty, politicians, members of ‘high society’, writers, actors of stage and film, and those on the outskirts too. The wealth of talent among those in the arts world at this time was vast, and we see who Wilde may have befriended, who he might have seen as adversaries, who he loved and who he lost.
I adored Wilde’s sharp, cutting wit and sardonic humour - which the author has captured perfectly. It was still there in Wilde’s twilight years as he befriended people like Katherine Hepburn, in Los Angeles, or joined forces with Winston Churchill to achieve legislative change.
The quotes from Wilde’s work, which preface each section, are so apt, and a reminder of the many works Wilde wrote which far outlived the man himself. Reading this book felt like witnessing something incredible - it’s one I relished, savoured and would quite happily give a standing ovation to. The finale, which included the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, was a stroke of genius: such a poignant and fitting end to this remarkable book.
I was gifted a proof copy by the publisher in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.
It’s a book which asks the question: what if Oscar Wilde hadn’t died at the age of 46, in 1900, but lived on? In a narrative which runs from 1895 to 1953, we read Wilde’s story - as imagined by Boyne - and what a credible and compassionate one it is!
I love the way the narrative has been woven around the main events from the first half of the 20th century, alongside a myriad of personalities from that time - incorporating those who were ‘freer’ thinkers, and those who weren’t. It’s also a story of the plight of men who love men, and the battle to repeal the laws which criminalised sexual activity between them.
The narrative includes conversations, letters, newspaper extracts and a couple of scenes set out as short play scripts. We hear from royalty, politicians, members of ‘high society’, writers, actors of stage and film, and those on the outskirts too. The wealth of talent among those in the arts world at this time was vast, and we see who Wilde may have befriended, who he might have seen as adversaries, who he loved and who he lost.
I adored Wilde’s sharp, cutting wit and sardonic humour - which the author has captured perfectly. It was still there in Wilde’s twilight years as he befriended people like Katherine Hepburn, in Los Angeles, or joined forces with Winston Churchill to achieve legislative change.
The quotes from Wilde’s work, which preface each section, are so apt, and a reminder of the many works Wilde wrote which far outlived the man himself. Reading this book felt like witnessing something incredible - it’s one I relished, savoured and would quite happily give a standing ovation to. The finale, which included the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, was a stroke of genius: such a poignant and fitting end to this remarkable book.
I was gifted a proof copy by the publisher in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 13, 2026
5* The Weight of Angels - John Boyne. A superb reimagining of the life of Oscar Wilde with a pivotal sliding door moment.
John Boyne is a superb Irish novelist and in The Weight of Angels he reimagines the life of Oscar Wilde, one of Ireland’s most famous writers, assuming Wilde turns the other cheek to a slight from the Earl of Queensbury and, rather than suing losing, going to prison, ending up physically broken and dying a young man, he goes on to lead a rich life into a grand old age.
In a novel reminiscent of Boyne’s own seminal The Heart’s Invisible Furies, Wilde provides a literary view of the first half of the 20th century. Attending coronations, engaging with Forster, Kipling, the Woolfs, Bram Stoker and many others, we follow our main protagonist from London to Paris to LA amidst two world wars, the suffragette movement and a lifetime desire to change laws on homosexuality.
Lots happens in this character driven novel. The dialogue is an utter delight, with Boyne at his witty best. A chunkster of a book at 600+ pages, not a word is wasted and the ending is a triumph.
John Boyne is an auto-read for me. This is one of his best.
Huge thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC.
John Boyne is a superb Irish novelist and in The Weight of Angels he reimagines the life of Oscar Wilde, one of Ireland’s most famous writers, assuming Wilde turns the other cheek to a slight from the Earl of Queensbury and, rather than suing losing, going to prison, ending up physically broken and dying a young man, he goes on to lead a rich life into a grand old age.
In a novel reminiscent of Boyne’s own seminal The Heart’s Invisible Furies, Wilde provides a literary view of the first half of the 20th century. Attending coronations, engaging with Forster, Kipling, the Woolfs, Bram Stoker and many others, we follow our main protagonist from London to Paris to LA amidst two world wars, the suffragette movement and a lifetime desire to change laws on homosexuality.
Lots happens in this character driven novel. The dialogue is an utter delight, with Boyne at his witty best. A chunkster of a book at 600+ pages, not a word is wasted and the ending is a triumph.
John Boyne is an auto-read for me. This is one of his best.
Huge thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC.
July 2, 2026
I genuinely think I was too dumb or uneducated to really enjoy this book. Which is crazy because I am actually the most overeducated person on the planet.
But really: the amount of historical figures in this book that make cameos! It's truly astounding. And it would be cool if I knew who they all were. But I didn't. And I would have spent literally half this book googling people if Oscar Wilde (in the context of this book, at least) didn't live until he was basically 100 and the book itself wasn't 600 pages.
This is a very strange book. It's sort of speculative historical fiction: what would happen if Oscar Wilde hadn't died when he had and instead lived to interact with all sorts of other historical figures and writers that came after him? There's *technically* a plotline that runs through this book and some character development for Oscar Wilde, but there's also 50% of this book that is just cameos from famous people. They show up, say a few things that would maybe make sense if you knew who they were, then disappear again into the ether without affecting the story in any meaningful way. I would have cut like 90% of that out and dedicated much more to Oscar Wilde instead.
Because here is what I expected this book to have based on the description:
✓ Great writing, excellent character development, and a moving plotline (because it's John Boyne)
✓ Sweeping historical detail
✓ LGBTQ relationships
✓ Great info about Oscar Wilde, whose work I absolutely love but whom I know relatively little about
What this book actually had:
✓ Great writing (it is John Boyne)
X Excellent characters and a moving plotline (hardly ever did I feel emotionally attached to anyone in this novel)
✓ Sweeping historical detail (I daresay TOO sweeping)
✓ LGBTQ relationships (but none that made me feel much, with the exception, sort of, of one)
X Great info about Oscar Wilde (Did I actually learn anything if everything that happens in this book is speculative and occurs after he dies?)
It's an extremely well-written book, and maybe I just wasn't the correct audience. If you're a classic literature nerd, this might be the best thing you've ever read! But for me, it was mostly a slog. And there's no one more disappointed than me.
But really: the amount of historical figures in this book that make cameos! It's truly astounding. And it would be cool if I knew who they all were. But I didn't. And I would have spent literally half this book googling people if Oscar Wilde (in the context of this book, at least) didn't live until he was basically 100 and the book itself wasn't 600 pages.
This is a very strange book. It's sort of speculative historical fiction: what would happen if Oscar Wilde hadn't died when he had and instead lived to interact with all sorts of other historical figures and writers that came after him? There's *technically* a plotline that runs through this book and some character development for Oscar Wilde, but there's also 50% of this book that is just cameos from famous people. They show up, say a few things that would maybe make sense if you knew who they were, then disappear again into the ether without affecting the story in any meaningful way. I would have cut like 90% of that out and dedicated much more to Oscar Wilde instead.
Because here is what I expected this book to have based on the description:
✓ Great writing, excellent character development, and a moving plotline (because it's John Boyne)
✓ Sweeping historical detail
✓ LGBTQ relationships
✓ Great info about Oscar Wilde, whose work I absolutely love but whom I know relatively little about
What this book actually had:
✓ Great writing (it is John Boyne)
X Excellent characters and a moving plotline (hardly ever did I feel emotionally attached to anyone in this novel)
✓ Sweeping historical detail (I daresay TOO sweeping)
✓ LGBTQ relationships (but none that made me feel much, with the exception, sort of, of one)
X Great info about Oscar Wilde (Did I actually learn anything if everything that happens in this book is speculative and occurs after he dies?)
It's an extremely well-written book, and maybe I just wasn't the correct audience. If you're a classic literature nerd, this might be the best thing you've ever read! But for me, it was mostly a slog. And there's no one more disappointed than me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
" My dear fellow, there are some things that go without saying. But naturally they are always the things that should be shouted loudest."
"I've never been known for my wisdom. Only my genius. And, on occasion, my eyelashes have received compliments."
Imagine a world where Oscar Wilde went onto become the man who managed to change political legislation. Imagine a world where Oscar Wilde lived to a nearly 100 hundred and met so many icons of literature, stage and screen of the 20th century. Imagine a world where the one-liners and acerbic wit of Oscar Wilde continued to be delivered to the world around him causing adoration, surprise and shock
John Boyne undertakes such an enterprise and imagines the point in 1895 when Oscar Wilde receives a postcard upon which were written : "For Oscar Wilde, posing sodomite". The reality was a famous law case that resulted in prison, scandal and exile. But what would have happened if there had been no court case and life took new paths for Oscar Wilde.
John Boyne takes on a journey of Oscar's life- re-imagined and it is a rollercoaster of events and wonderful encounters. Taking us from the end of the 19th century until the early 1950s: four coronation spectacles; two world wars; travels within Europe and across to the USA and array of meetings, stories and personal events.
Told through recounted events, letters, scripts, newspaper articles, this is an epic read and from start to finish Oscar's larger than life, vivacious character is at the forefront. A story full of comical moments (and there are many) and tragic personal events ( and they are incredibly moving) against a backdrop of global and cultural events. At times, this is a seriously life-out-loud book - some of the best comical writing I've read in years- but equally the personal tribulations of Wilde are moving and unflinching.
This is a celebration of a queer icon but also a nod to times past when to speak freely- as Oscar did- was shocking but without cancellation. Whether this reflects recent events when John Boyne received a backlash for his 'trans-exclusionary' opinions, only the author could comment.
Oscar Wilde's character can appear to be aloof, conceited and arrogant but within this story there is a man who doesn't always understand the wider world and regrets bitterly some of his choices. At a point if ultimate loss , the man receives a sharp retort;; "For all your cleverness, wit and learning, you don't really understand the smallest thing about what it means to be human, do you?'
This is a lengthy read of 624 pages but well worth diving in. One quote from the book that brought a smile : "One of the good things about moving further from the nineteenth century is how little inclination novelists seem to have for inflicting six-, seven-, hight-hundred page books on us. If I were in charge of the world I would outlaw such novels , imprison their authors and send their wives and children into exile."
But following on from the 'Elements' Quartet which was challenging, raw and powerful, this new book demonstrates again that this is an author with a talent that will prevail and is certainly still worthy of attention and enjoyment.
One of 2026 most original, entertaining and moving stories.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Doubleday Publishers and NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Quotes:
"Oscar," said Thelma turning to him. "Your reputation enters the room while you're still outside on the street paying the taxi driver."
"In my experience," said Clementine,"it iOS the young, so firmly convinced of their moral rectitude, who are the quickest to condemn anyone who dares hold an opinion contrary to their own. I don't know why they bother going to university, at all, since they seem to understand everything about the world."
" Westminster Abbey always puts me in mind of a bar in a brothel. You never know who you're going to run into, but they're sure to have story to tell."
" Ambition," said Oscar, is like an orgasm. If it takes too long to achieve, one might as well give up the ghost."
"I've never been known for my wisdom. Only my genius. And, on occasion, my eyelashes have received compliments."
Imagine a world where Oscar Wilde went onto become the man who managed to change political legislation. Imagine a world where Oscar Wilde lived to a nearly 100 hundred and met so many icons of literature, stage and screen of the 20th century. Imagine a world where the one-liners and acerbic wit of Oscar Wilde continued to be delivered to the world around him causing adoration, surprise and shock
John Boyne undertakes such an enterprise and imagines the point in 1895 when Oscar Wilde receives a postcard upon which were written : "For Oscar Wilde, posing sodomite". The reality was a famous law case that resulted in prison, scandal and exile. But what would have happened if there had been no court case and life took new paths for Oscar Wilde.
John Boyne takes on a journey of Oscar's life- re-imagined and it is a rollercoaster of events and wonderful encounters. Taking us from the end of the 19th century until the early 1950s: four coronation spectacles; two world wars; travels within Europe and across to the USA and array of meetings, stories and personal events.
Told through recounted events, letters, scripts, newspaper articles, this is an epic read and from start to finish Oscar's larger than life, vivacious character is at the forefront. A story full of comical moments (and there are many) and tragic personal events ( and they are incredibly moving) against a backdrop of global and cultural events. At times, this is a seriously life-out-loud book - some of the best comical writing I've read in years- but equally the personal tribulations of Wilde are moving and unflinching.
This is a celebration of a queer icon but also a nod to times past when to speak freely- as Oscar did- was shocking but without cancellation. Whether this reflects recent events when John Boyne received a backlash for his 'trans-exclusionary' opinions, only the author could comment.
Oscar Wilde's character can appear to be aloof, conceited and arrogant but within this story there is a man who doesn't always understand the wider world and regrets bitterly some of his choices. At a point if ultimate loss , the man receives a sharp retort;; "For all your cleverness, wit and learning, you don't really understand the smallest thing about what it means to be human, do you?'
This is a lengthy read of 624 pages but well worth diving in. One quote from the book that brought a smile : "One of the good things about moving further from the nineteenth century is how little inclination novelists seem to have for inflicting six-, seven-, hight-hundred page books on us. If I were in charge of the world I would outlaw such novels , imprison their authors and send their wives and children into exile."
But following on from the 'Elements' Quartet which was challenging, raw and powerful, this new book demonstrates again that this is an author with a talent that will prevail and is certainly still worthy of attention and enjoyment.
One of 2026 most original, entertaining and moving stories.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Doubleday Publishers and NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Quotes:
"Oscar," said Thelma turning to him. "Your reputation enters the room while you're still outside on the street paying the taxi driver."
"In my experience," said Clementine,"it iOS the young, so firmly convinced of their moral rectitude, who are the quickest to condemn anyone who dares hold an opinion contrary to their own. I don't know why they bother going to university, at all, since they seem to understand everything about the world."
" Westminster Abbey always puts me in mind of a bar in a brothel. You never know who you're going to run into, but they're sure to have story to tell."
" Ambition," said Oscar, is like an orgasm. If it takes too long to achieve, one might as well give up the ghost."
August 19, 2026
Every book John Boyne writes is different from all the others. It feels to me like he is continually challenging himself as an author by experimenting with style and construction. So, as a fan of both the author and of Oscar Wilde, I couldn't wait to get my hands on THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS.
This is a What IF book - in that Boyne is imagining what might have occurred had Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) not sued John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensbury (father of Lord Alfred Douglas, aka "Bosie") for calling Wilde a sodomite. If you're familiar with Wilde's history you know that he was eventually tried and convicted of homosexual behavior, which was illegal in Britain in the 1890s. After spending two years in prison at hard labor, which severely impacted his health, Wilde died in 1900, at the age of 46, shortly after his release.
What is most remarkable to me about this book is how successfully Boyne has captured Wilde's voice. It can't have been easy writing such consistently clever dialog. Because reading this novel is like reading Wilde himself. It is full of the wit, humor, and sarcasm Wilde is famous for. Throughout the first half or so, I was captivated by my enjoyment of the language and the rich, though totally fictitious, life Boyne creates for Wilde. It all felt so plausible. A long love affair, exchanges with friends and colleagues, the relationships with assorted employees, and extensive professional success. It was fun reading how Wilde might have reacted to some of the major events of the 20th century - like multiple royal coronations, two world wars, and the birth of motion pictures.
However, THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS is a long book - nearly 600 pages. A little more than halfway through the book, I found myself slowly shifting. Instead of remaining immersed in Wilde's life, I began to feel I was reading a series of contrived and unrelated meet-ups between Wilde and famous people of the century. And not just literary and theater contemporaries like William Butler Yeats, E. M. Forster, George Bernard Shaw, Sarah Bernhardt, and Bram Stoker (all of whom appear).
Instead, I started to suspect Boyne had identified the figures HE found interesting in each decade and then fabricated some direct connection for each with Wilde. It simply didn't seem plausible that Wilde would become close to so many notable characters. Like befriending Lady Thelma Furness, hosting Wallis Simpson, planning a political campaign with Winston Churchill, and meeting so many Hollywood actors.
At first I resented this shift of plausible to not plausible. But as I continued on, I began to enjoy the fantasy of it. Boyne seemed to be playing, sharing his own opinions and observations. Through Wilde's character, Boyne was pointing out the irony, hypocrisy, or just plain silliness of the unfolding 20th century. Not to mention the ridiculously unfair legal prosecution of people simply for their sexual preference. THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS became sharp social commentary, concealed within Wilde's character.
There were a few times the book felt long and I personally feel it would not have suffered if it had ended sooner. But I did thoroughly enjoy the ride, loved the ending, and recommend THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS highly. In fact, if you're not familiar with him, I recommend you pick up any book by John Boyne. No matter what you choose, you won't be disappointed.
This is a What IF book - in that Boyne is imagining what might have occurred had Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) not sued John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensbury (father of Lord Alfred Douglas, aka "Bosie") for calling Wilde a sodomite. If you're familiar with Wilde's history you know that he was eventually tried and convicted of homosexual behavior, which was illegal in Britain in the 1890s. After spending two years in prison at hard labor, which severely impacted his health, Wilde died in 1900, at the age of 46, shortly after his release.
What is most remarkable to me about this book is how successfully Boyne has captured Wilde's voice. It can't have been easy writing such consistently clever dialog. Because reading this novel is like reading Wilde himself. It is full of the wit, humor, and sarcasm Wilde is famous for. Throughout the first half or so, I was captivated by my enjoyment of the language and the rich, though totally fictitious, life Boyne creates for Wilde. It all felt so plausible. A long love affair, exchanges with friends and colleagues, the relationships with assorted employees, and extensive professional success. It was fun reading how Wilde might have reacted to some of the major events of the 20th century - like multiple royal coronations, two world wars, and the birth of motion pictures.
However, THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS is a long book - nearly 600 pages. A little more than halfway through the book, I found myself slowly shifting. Instead of remaining immersed in Wilde's life, I began to feel I was reading a series of contrived and unrelated meet-ups between Wilde and famous people of the century. And not just literary and theater contemporaries like William Butler Yeats, E. M. Forster, George Bernard Shaw, Sarah Bernhardt, and Bram Stoker (all of whom appear).
Instead, I started to suspect Boyne had identified the figures HE found interesting in each decade and then fabricated some direct connection for each with Wilde. It simply didn't seem plausible that Wilde would become close to so many notable characters. Like befriending Lady Thelma Furness, hosting Wallis Simpson, planning a political campaign with Winston Churchill, and meeting so many Hollywood actors.
At first I resented this shift of plausible to not plausible. But as I continued on, I began to enjoy the fantasy of it. Boyne seemed to be playing, sharing his own opinions and observations. Through Wilde's character, Boyne was pointing out the irony, hypocrisy, or just plain silliness of the unfolding 20th century. Not to mention the ridiculously unfair legal prosecution of people simply for their sexual preference. THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS became sharp social commentary, concealed within Wilde's character.
There were a few times the book felt long and I personally feel it would not have suffered if it had ended sooner. But I did thoroughly enjoy the ride, loved the ending, and recommend THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS highly. In fact, if you're not familiar with him, I recommend you pick up any book by John Boyne. No matter what you choose, you won't be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5, rounded up.
It's a deliciously audacious premise - when Oscar Wilde is accused of posing as a 'somdomite' (sic) by the Marquess of Queensbury, instead of what he did IRL - i.e., suing for libel, losing and spending two years at hard labor in Reading Gaol, which breaks his health and leads to his early death in 1900 - the author decides to ignore it and goes on to live to a ripe old 98 in 1953! His paramour, Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas, the Marquess's son, therefor becomes incarcerated in his stead, and goes on to write The Ballad of Reading Gaol and Other Poems instead of Oscar.
Wilde thereafter becomes a sort of Zelig or Forrest Gump character, being on hand for many of the most important events of the 20th century and meeting with a wide variety of prestigious people - all of the expected literary greats: Yeats, Forster, Kipling, etc.; but also theatrical luminaries: Katherine Hepburn, Gielgud, Olivier, Bernhardt; and political stalwarts, including Churchill, Emma Pankhurst and QE2. He also goes on to write and publish many more plays, novels and essays - some of which are excerpted here, becoming a Lord, and winning both the Nobel Prize and an Academy Award.
It takes major cojones to even attempt to imitate Wilde's wit and offer up a surfeit of clever bon mots - but Boyne is more than up to the challenge, and though perhaps not as LOL funny as his masterpiece, The Heart's Invisible Furies, the book provides ample chuckles along the way.
Boyne has a larger agenda than mere frivolity, however, and much of the book details Wilde's various attempts to repeal England's draconian laws prohibiting homosexuality and thus becomes a beacon in the struggle for gay rights.
My only minor quibble is that some of these adventures stretch the limits of probability, and at 624 pages, it also could have used some judicious editing. A few of the encounters - most notably those with the Woolfs and Mickey Rooney - seem meanspirited and not based on any real facts, and the ending's descent into mawkish sentimentality seemed off to me. I somewhat preferred Boyne's previous work The Elements, which topped my 'Best of ...' list last year.
It will be interesting to see how this is received, after the author's 'cancellation' due to his controversial views on trans people, but if that can be overlooked, perhaps he will finally get some awards recognition by the Bookers and others. Fingers crossed, and my gratitude to Netgalley and Henry Holt for the ARC in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.
It's a deliciously audacious premise - when Oscar Wilde is accused of posing as a 'somdomite' (sic) by the Marquess of Queensbury, instead of what he did IRL - i.e., suing for libel, losing and spending two years at hard labor in Reading Gaol, which breaks his health and leads to his early death in 1900 - the author decides to ignore it and goes on to live to a ripe old 98 in 1953! His paramour, Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas, the Marquess's son, therefor becomes incarcerated in his stead, and goes on to write The Ballad of Reading Gaol and Other Poems instead of Oscar.
Wilde thereafter becomes a sort of Zelig or Forrest Gump character, being on hand for many of the most important events of the 20th century and meeting with a wide variety of prestigious people - all of the expected literary greats: Yeats, Forster, Kipling, etc.; but also theatrical luminaries: Katherine Hepburn, Gielgud, Olivier, Bernhardt; and political stalwarts, including Churchill, Emma Pankhurst and QE2. He also goes on to write and publish many more plays, novels and essays - some of which are excerpted here, becoming a Lord, and winning both the Nobel Prize and an Academy Award.
It takes major cojones to even attempt to imitate Wilde's wit and offer up a surfeit of clever bon mots - but Boyne is more than up to the challenge, and though perhaps not as LOL funny as his masterpiece, The Heart's Invisible Furies, the book provides ample chuckles along the way.
Boyne has a larger agenda than mere frivolity, however, and much of the book details Wilde's various attempts to repeal England's draconian laws prohibiting homosexuality and thus becomes a beacon in the struggle for gay rights.
My only minor quibble is that some of these adventures stretch the limits of probability, and at 624 pages, it also could have used some judicious editing. A few of the encounters - most notably those with the Woolfs and Mickey Rooney - seem meanspirited and not based on any real facts, and the ending's descent into mawkish sentimentality seemed off to me. I somewhat preferred Boyne's previous work The Elements, which topped my 'Best of ...' list last year.
It will be interesting to see how this is received, after the author's 'cancellation' due to his controversial views on trans people, but if that can be overlooked, perhaps he will finally get some awards recognition by the Bookers and others. Fingers crossed, and my gratitude to Netgalley and Henry Holt for the ARC in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of The Weight of Angels by John Boyne
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for this ARC.
John Boyne’s sweeping narrative, covering the years 1895 to 1953, is marked by four coronations and two world wars. It starts on the day the writer, Oscar Wilde, receives the notorious calling card from the Marquis of Queensberry, accusing him of being a ‘somdomite.’ In Boyne’s imagined version of events, Wilde chooses not to challenge the Marquis of Queensberry in court, and from that moment on, history is re-written.
Wilde is the lens through which this alternative history is recounted. Boyne captures the sharp wit, and oblique view of the world, for which Wilde was famous. That wit, however, is also a personal shield. As a gay man in that era, Wilde’s existence remains precarious. Although cushioned by his popular reputation, Wilde’s survival depends on maintaining public acceptability.
At first, I was trying to match what I was reading with what I knew about Oscar Wilde and actual historical events of the period. Some divergences are obvious invention, but as I got deeper into the story, it seemed to matter less. The cast of colourful characters, including politicians, royalty, actors, directors and fellow writers, are engaging and believable, whether based on real people or not.
We meet a plethora of literary figures, brought to life with absorbing details that make for entertaining reading. They often come across as very funny, such as the eccentric Virginia and Leonard Woolf, the whimsical E. M Forster, and the self-absorbed Shaw. Boyne portrays them as Oscar Wilde might have seen them, with hilarious results.
The novel also ventures into more serious territory, particularly around the subject of sexual consent and the ethics of paying for sexual gratification. Boyne’s version of Wilde skirts the edges of these debates, loathe to commit to a standpoint. While he is quietly protective of the small extended family he gathers around him, it is usually others who speak out. Friendly with Mrs Pankhurst, he only half-heartedly supports Women’s Suffrage. But as the years pass, Wilde does change. When his own his own pursuit of sexual pleasure cost him a devoted partner of 17 years, Wilde starts to consider whether he needs to speak out regarding his true nature. The loss of loved ones shifts his priorities, and as he gets older, he takes greater risks with his reputation.
Given the sheer scope of the novel, some subjects receive a lighter touch than they might deserve, edging on flippancy. At times it is unclear what Boyne is saying by re-shaping Wilde’s life in the way he does. The world with Wilde still present does not seem radically different from the world without him, aside from certain event occurring earlier. Rather than changing history, the novel seems to be more Boyne’s personal exploration of the life of a brilliant writer, who must navigate a time of extraordinary changes. In that sense it succeeds. Wilde’s journey is a moving, thought provoking, and thoroughly entertaining perspective on history.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for this ARC.
John Boyne’s sweeping narrative, covering the years 1895 to 1953, is marked by four coronations and two world wars. It starts on the day the writer, Oscar Wilde, receives the notorious calling card from the Marquis of Queensberry, accusing him of being a ‘somdomite.’ In Boyne’s imagined version of events, Wilde chooses not to challenge the Marquis of Queensberry in court, and from that moment on, history is re-written.
Wilde is the lens through which this alternative history is recounted. Boyne captures the sharp wit, and oblique view of the world, for which Wilde was famous. That wit, however, is also a personal shield. As a gay man in that era, Wilde’s existence remains precarious. Although cushioned by his popular reputation, Wilde’s survival depends on maintaining public acceptability.
At first, I was trying to match what I was reading with what I knew about Oscar Wilde and actual historical events of the period. Some divergences are obvious invention, but as I got deeper into the story, it seemed to matter less. The cast of colourful characters, including politicians, royalty, actors, directors and fellow writers, are engaging and believable, whether based on real people or not.
We meet a plethora of literary figures, brought to life with absorbing details that make for entertaining reading. They often come across as very funny, such as the eccentric Virginia and Leonard Woolf, the whimsical E. M Forster, and the self-absorbed Shaw. Boyne portrays them as Oscar Wilde might have seen them, with hilarious results.
The novel also ventures into more serious territory, particularly around the subject of sexual consent and the ethics of paying for sexual gratification. Boyne’s version of Wilde skirts the edges of these debates, loathe to commit to a standpoint. While he is quietly protective of the small extended family he gathers around him, it is usually others who speak out. Friendly with Mrs Pankhurst, he only half-heartedly supports Women’s Suffrage. But as the years pass, Wilde does change. When his own his own pursuit of sexual pleasure cost him a devoted partner of 17 years, Wilde starts to consider whether he needs to speak out regarding his true nature. The loss of loved ones shifts his priorities, and as he gets older, he takes greater risks with his reputation.
Given the sheer scope of the novel, some subjects receive a lighter touch than they might deserve, edging on flippancy. At times it is unclear what Boyne is saying by re-shaping Wilde’s life in the way he does. The world with Wilde still present does not seem radically different from the world without him, aside from certain event occurring earlier. Rather than changing history, the novel seems to be more Boyne’s personal exploration of the life of a brilliant writer, who must navigate a time of extraordinary changes. In that sense it succeeds. Wilde’s journey is a moving, thought provoking, and thoroughly entertaining perspective on history.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"To live is the rarest thing in the world"
This is an ambitious novel charting the imagined life of an Oscar Wilde who doesn't sue the Marquess of Queensbury, stays out of prison and lives a long and full life. We get to imagine the plays and books he might have written, the people he interacted with and opinions he might have gone on to change if only he had the chance to do so.
The early part of the book was full of familiar characters from Wilde's life and it was fascinating to see events play out differently, particularly the fate of Bosie. However, it was the central section of the book that was the real heart of the story, giving Wilde a depth of character beyond his public persona. This is an Oscar who falls deeply in love and builds a rich life with a created family of wonderful characters, an Oscar who feels increasingly real. I found myself researching some of the real life characters on Wikipedia and wondering why their biographies didn't mention Wilde! It is often deeply moving, particularly when dealing with the tragedy of the Great War when petty rivalries are put to one side and people as dissimilar as Wilde and Kipling are united in grief.
The book is often hilarious and John Boyne captures Wilde's voice beautifully without falling into caricature. I loved his rivalries with other Irish writers, his inability to remember anyone's names, the entertaining interactions at the various coronations he attends and the way he breezes through life with champagne and verve. But underlying the humour is a much darker underbelly of hidden homosexuality, prostitution and the threat of prison if discovered. Wilde's life falls apart when he fails to resist temptation and to me, the novel became weaker after losing the strong central family. The last section of the book was entertaining but it felt less real. It became more about imagining Oscar Wilde meeting all sorts of historic and literary figures. He becomes involved with the abdication, has an unlikely adventure in Hollywood and becomes part of the establishment. The length of the book and the length of Wilde's life began to tell at this point because the interactions became a little superficial and the Oscar who had felt so real began to fade a little.
I did enjoy the very last part of the book as the very elderly Oscar finally has the courage to tell the world the truth about who he is and challenge the criminalisation of homosexuality. I loved his relationship with Winston Churchill and his reconciliation with the important people in his life. It did become a little mawkish right at the very end but I was crying so much at this point it would be hypocritical to pretend it didn't move me. I so wanted this to have been the life that Oscar Wilde had been able to live and John Boyne has done a terrific job of bringing that possibility to life.
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book.
This is an ambitious novel charting the imagined life of an Oscar Wilde who doesn't sue the Marquess of Queensbury, stays out of prison and lives a long and full life. We get to imagine the plays and books he might have written, the people he interacted with and opinions he might have gone on to change if only he had the chance to do so.
The early part of the book was full of familiar characters from Wilde's life and it was fascinating to see events play out differently, particularly the fate of Bosie. However, it was the central section of the book that was the real heart of the story, giving Wilde a depth of character beyond his public persona. This is an Oscar who falls deeply in love and builds a rich life with a created family of wonderful characters, an Oscar who feels increasingly real. I found myself researching some of the real life characters on Wikipedia and wondering why their biographies didn't mention Wilde! It is often deeply moving, particularly when dealing with the tragedy of the Great War when petty rivalries are put to one side and people as dissimilar as Wilde and Kipling are united in grief.
The book is often hilarious and John Boyne captures Wilde's voice beautifully without falling into caricature. I loved his rivalries with other Irish writers, his inability to remember anyone's names, the entertaining interactions at the various coronations he attends and the way he breezes through life with champagne and verve. But underlying the humour is a much darker underbelly of hidden homosexuality, prostitution and the threat of prison if discovered. Wilde's life falls apart when he fails to resist temptation and to me, the novel became weaker after losing the strong central family. The last section of the book was entertaining but it felt less real. It became more about imagining Oscar Wilde meeting all sorts of historic and literary figures. He becomes involved with the abdication, has an unlikely adventure in Hollywood and becomes part of the establishment. The length of the book and the length of Wilde's life began to tell at this point because the interactions became a little superficial and the Oscar who had felt so real began to fade a little.
I did enjoy the very last part of the book as the very elderly Oscar finally has the courage to tell the world the truth about who he is and challenge the criminalisation of homosexuality. I loved his relationship with Winston Churchill and his reconciliation with the important people in his life. It did become a little mawkish right at the very end but I was crying so much at this point it would be hypocritical to pretend it didn't move me. I so wanted this to have been the life that Oscar Wilde had been able to live and John Boyne has done a terrific job of bringing that possibility to life.
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book.
May 5, 2026
Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for this ARC of “The Weight of Angels” by John Boyne. Having been a fan of Boynes work for many years, I was keen to read this and delighted to have had the chance to do so in advance.
Often the trope in historical fiction of “but what if?…” is used, and often it can be a disastrous attempt to twist the narrative in a way that can be confusing and disappointing. I’m glad to say this was most firmly not the case, but an interesting parable (though definitely not as short as that word usually references) on where and what Wilde may have gone on to do and influence.
This is not a small novel, to quote the book itself “Lengthy novels, I feel are so self-indulgent” gave me quite a chuckle at the size of this book itself. However, to fully explore the “what if” storyline, it is needed. How else could Boyne fully expand on what could have been without the length of such a novel. It flickers through so many different worlds and possibilities though, that once I was into the story I never questioned its length. The various parts all felt needed and I wanted to know what would happen into the next year and so on. I will say that we met so many characters and people from history, that I would have enjoyed if more of the length of this book had allowed us to dive into their characters and the emotional toll it took on Wilde. Some were so fleeting that it seemed a shame to not fully explore them, my favourite of these pop up characters being Emmeline Pankhurst. The dialogue between the two of them was exciting and paced well.
There has never been much debate about Wildes sexuality and his situations with men of various ages,and I appreciated that this take on his life didn’t sugar coat that. Back then, there were so many awful things that did happen and referencing and using those in this book gave it that sharpness and honesty. Bringing Bosie in was a beautiful moment, that was sadly so bittersweet once we realised what would happen. His link with this character, maybe because they are documented and that relationship was true, brought the most beautiful scenes in the book. When we later met Gus, I felt myself still wanting that love and connection we felt with Bosie, which maybe is what the author wants us to feel. That if Wilde had met someone, we permanently would be judging it against that earlier love.
Whether you have read Boynes work before or not, know much about the life of Wilde or are a novice to that side of history, this book is weighted with a beautiful story, that will truly make your heart ache for what could have been.
Often the trope in historical fiction of “but what if?…” is used, and often it can be a disastrous attempt to twist the narrative in a way that can be confusing and disappointing. I’m glad to say this was most firmly not the case, but an interesting parable (though definitely not as short as that word usually references) on where and what Wilde may have gone on to do and influence.
This is not a small novel, to quote the book itself “Lengthy novels, I feel are so self-indulgent” gave me quite a chuckle at the size of this book itself. However, to fully explore the “what if” storyline, it is needed. How else could Boyne fully expand on what could have been without the length of such a novel. It flickers through so many different worlds and possibilities though, that once I was into the story I never questioned its length. The various parts all felt needed and I wanted to know what would happen into the next year and so on. I will say that we met so many characters and people from history, that I would have enjoyed if more of the length of this book had allowed us to dive into their characters and the emotional toll it took on Wilde. Some were so fleeting that it seemed a shame to not fully explore them, my favourite of these pop up characters being Emmeline Pankhurst. The dialogue between the two of them was exciting and paced well.
There has never been much debate about Wildes sexuality and his situations with men of various ages,and I appreciated that this take on his life didn’t sugar coat that. Back then, there were so many awful things that did happen and referencing and using those in this book gave it that sharpness and honesty. Bringing Bosie in was a beautiful moment, that was sadly so bittersweet once we realised what would happen. His link with this character, maybe because they are documented and that relationship was true, brought the most beautiful scenes in the book. When we later met Gus, I felt myself still wanting that love and connection we felt with Bosie, which maybe is what the author wants us to feel. That if Wilde had met someone, we permanently would be judging it against that earlier love.
Whether you have read Boynes work before or not, know much about the life of Wilde or are a novice to that side of history, this book is weighted with a beautiful story, that will truly make your heart ache for what could have been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Weight of Angels, is the latest novel by one of my favourite authors John Boyne. This is an historical novel that is a what if imaginary story featuring the literary genius of Oscar Wilde that proved to be an emotional journey. John Boyne has created an alternative reality in this “what-if” epic that rescues Oscar Wilde from the crushing weight of history, offering him a second act that is as exhilarating as his first was celebrated.
In actual history, February 1895 marked the beginning of the end for Wilde. When the Marquis of Queensbury left a card at the Albemarle Club calling Wilde a “posing Somdomite,” Wilde’s decision to sue for libel backfired spectacularly, leading to his arrest for gross indecency and his eventual death in a Parisian hotel room at just forty-six. John Boyne creates the premise hinging on a single moment of restraint, What if Wilde had simply ignored the insult? By bypassing the trial that destroyed him, Wilde avoids the spiral of public disgrace and humiliation, instead stepping into a 20th century that is just beginning to roar.
The story extends Oscar Wilde’s life so that he experiences the changes of the early 1900s, allowing him to influence the world rather than be erased by it. There are many historical characters that feature in the novel, such as Winston Churchill, Houdini and Katherine Hepburn that add humour and interest. John Boyne has written an historical novel that is interesting, humorous and thought provoking. We are allowed to read a what if account of what Oscar Wilde’s life may have been if he had lived in this dramatic and tumultuous period, witnessing events he was never supposed to see. The second part of the book is almost a tribute to a life he never got to live.
This is a fascinating read by an author who manages to make any subject entertaining. This is not the first book by John Boyne that at first look is not to my taste, yet I have enjoyed every word when reading it. The story explore how Wilde’s genius might have reacted to the changes in the new century, such as the suffragette movement and the impending world wars.
The Weight of Angels is more than just a historical fantasy; it is an emotional story of a literary genius in a “what-if” premise.
The Weight of Angels is a poignant, witty, and deeply moving novel that reimagines the life of a literary genius whose life was cut short.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
In actual history, February 1895 marked the beginning of the end for Wilde. When the Marquis of Queensbury left a card at the Albemarle Club calling Wilde a “posing Somdomite,” Wilde’s decision to sue for libel backfired spectacularly, leading to his arrest for gross indecency and his eventual death in a Parisian hotel room at just forty-six. John Boyne creates the premise hinging on a single moment of restraint, What if Wilde had simply ignored the insult? By bypassing the trial that destroyed him, Wilde avoids the spiral of public disgrace and humiliation, instead stepping into a 20th century that is just beginning to roar.
The story extends Oscar Wilde’s life so that he experiences the changes of the early 1900s, allowing him to influence the world rather than be erased by it. There are many historical characters that feature in the novel, such as Winston Churchill, Houdini and Katherine Hepburn that add humour and interest. John Boyne has written an historical novel that is interesting, humorous and thought provoking. We are allowed to read a what if account of what Oscar Wilde’s life may have been if he had lived in this dramatic and tumultuous period, witnessing events he was never supposed to see. The second part of the book is almost a tribute to a life he never got to live.
This is a fascinating read by an author who manages to make any subject entertaining. This is not the first book by John Boyne that at first look is not to my taste, yet I have enjoyed every word when reading it. The story explore how Wilde’s genius might have reacted to the changes in the new century, such as the suffragette movement and the impending world wars.
The Weight of Angels is more than just a historical fantasy; it is an emotional story of a literary genius in a “what-if” premise.
The Weight of Angels is a poignant, witty, and deeply moving novel that reimagines the life of a literary genius whose life was cut short.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
‘Can one rash decision prove the difference between a life well lived and a life destroyed?’
I had to start my review of The Weight of Angels by John Boyne because it’s the one line from the synopsis of the book that fully summarises it. Obviously that’s the point of a synopsis; to drag a reader kicking and screaming to the cash register and then to be curled up at home with their new book. I was intrigued just by the cover, which has Oscar Wilde in all his somewhat pompous glory on it and I did indeed judge a book by its cover because The Picture of Dorian Grey is my favourite book.
I loved this book. I experienced a plethora of emotions as I moved through time alongside Oscar Wilde after he chose not to take the Marquis of Queensbury to court. Rather than the events that occur where Oscar is exposed as a homosexual man, imprisoned and dying at the age of 46 due to illness which could have been a direct result of the treatment he received in Reading Gaol. Instead of these factual events, we have a Sliding Doors moment (I hope a lot of people understand that term and where it came from) and because Wilde turned the other cheek, he has a chance of life with the pages of Boyne’s work.
Boyne’s world-building is immersive, vividly bringing nineteenth- and early - to mid-twentieth-century London to life. His writing is beautiful and richly descriptive, and he breathes life into not only Oscar Wilde but also many other historical figures, from Florence Balcombe, Bram Stoker’s wife, to Queen Elizabeth II and her relatively small family at the time of her coronation. I also appreciated that Boyne portrays Wilde as deeply flawed. He often frustrated me, particularly because he still loses Bosie and witnesses the damage his behaviour causes to both his lover and his wife, yet does not learn to value the people in his life until it is far too late.
This wonderful story of what if and of Oscar Wilde and his friends and lovers has a focus on homosexuality and how it was to be a gay man in Britain when it was treated as a crime. Whilst Wilde is still very flawed in the book; I really did like how in his later life, he campaigns alongside Winston Churchill of all people to have the law overturned. This comes after many lessons, and insightful moments throughout the book of the men who had an almost luxury to be their true selves behind closed doors, and the boys who knew that their appeal would be the only thing to keep them from the true poverty line.
I came away emotional, and I confess tears were shed at the death of Oscar in the mid twentieth century; Boyne gave us a man to care about, and gave Wilde an opportunity for redemption within The Weight of Angels. This was a truly magnificent read and I will be re-reading when it’s released.
I had to start my review of The Weight of Angels by John Boyne because it’s the one line from the synopsis of the book that fully summarises it. Obviously that’s the point of a synopsis; to drag a reader kicking and screaming to the cash register and then to be curled up at home with their new book. I was intrigued just by the cover, which has Oscar Wilde in all his somewhat pompous glory on it and I did indeed judge a book by its cover because The Picture of Dorian Grey is my favourite book.
I loved this book. I experienced a plethora of emotions as I moved through time alongside Oscar Wilde after he chose not to take the Marquis of Queensbury to court. Rather than the events that occur where Oscar is exposed as a homosexual man, imprisoned and dying at the age of 46 due to illness which could have been a direct result of the treatment he received in Reading Gaol. Instead of these factual events, we have a Sliding Doors moment (I hope a lot of people understand that term and where it came from) and because Wilde turned the other cheek, he has a chance of life with the pages of Boyne’s work.
Boyne’s world-building is immersive, vividly bringing nineteenth- and early - to mid-twentieth-century London to life. His writing is beautiful and richly descriptive, and he breathes life into not only Oscar Wilde but also many other historical figures, from Florence Balcombe, Bram Stoker’s wife, to Queen Elizabeth II and her relatively small family at the time of her coronation. I also appreciated that Boyne portrays Wilde as deeply flawed. He often frustrated me, particularly because he still loses Bosie and witnesses the damage his behaviour causes to both his lover and his wife, yet does not learn to value the people in his life until it is far too late.
This wonderful story of what if and of Oscar Wilde and his friends and lovers has a focus on homosexuality and how it was to be a gay man in Britain when it was treated as a crime. Whilst Wilde is still very flawed in the book; I really did like how in his later life, he campaigns alongside Winston Churchill of all people to have the law overturned. This comes after many lessons, and insightful moments throughout the book of the men who had an almost luxury to be their true selves behind closed doors, and the boys who knew that their appeal would be the only thing to keep them from the true poverty line.
I came away emotional, and I confess tears were shed at the death of Oscar in the mid twentieth century; Boyne gave us a man to care about, and gave Wilde an opportunity for redemption within The Weight of Angels. This was a truly magnificent read and I will be re-reading when it’s released.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When people ask me who my favourite author is, I often deflect the question choosing instead to give a list of 5 or 6 writers, refusing point blank to narrow it down to just one. How can avid readers be expected to name just a single person? Well, after reading The Weight of Angels I will, from this day forward, be able to answer that question with a single name - John Boyne.
In The Weight of Angels, Boyne takes on the life of the iconic Oscar Wilde. I have to admit, much to my shame, I was not particularly familiar with the details of Oscar's life, knowing him only through his writings and acerbic wit. The details of his tumultuous private life and the ensuing disgrace were largely beyond my knowledge.
In real life, the Marquess of Queensbury (the father of Wilde's lover) left a calling card for Oscar at the Albemarle Club saying only 5 words: "For Oscar Wilde. Posing somdomite (sic)." Against the advice of friends, Wilde pursued a private prosecution for libel against Queensbury who was arrested for criminal libel. With his only way of avoiding prosecution to prove the allegations, the Marquess hired private detectives to find evidence of Wilde's homosexuality.
During the trial, details of Wilde's private life came out detailing his association with prostitutes and attendance at brothels leaving Wilde with no option but to drop the charges with the Marquess being found not guilty. This led to Wilde being charged for gross indecency, spending time in prison and leaving the UK on his release.
What Boyne undertakes here is a historical 'what if' moment? What if Wilde didn't respond to the Marquess's calling card? What if he ignored it and didn't end up bringing charges or ending up in prison himself? What if he lived through the key moments of the early 20th century, influencing key events, meeting key people like Emmeline Pankhurst and Winston Churchill.
At 624 pages, this book is epic however I could have read on and on. Sometimes with books of this length, I find myself scanning to get through it more quickly, however, much like Wilde, Boyne's writing is so clever and witty than I devoured every word on every page.
I couldn't recommend this book enough.
Thanks to Netgalley, and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Definitely my favourite book of the year so far, and it will taken something special to beat it.
In The Weight of Angels, Boyne takes on the life of the iconic Oscar Wilde. I have to admit, much to my shame, I was not particularly familiar with the details of Oscar's life, knowing him only through his writings and acerbic wit. The details of his tumultuous private life and the ensuing disgrace were largely beyond my knowledge.
In real life, the Marquess of Queensbury (the father of Wilde's lover) left a calling card for Oscar at the Albemarle Club saying only 5 words: "For Oscar Wilde. Posing somdomite (sic)." Against the advice of friends, Wilde pursued a private prosecution for libel against Queensbury who was arrested for criminal libel. With his only way of avoiding prosecution to prove the allegations, the Marquess hired private detectives to find evidence of Wilde's homosexuality.
During the trial, details of Wilde's private life came out detailing his association with prostitutes and attendance at brothels leaving Wilde with no option but to drop the charges with the Marquess being found not guilty. This led to Wilde being charged for gross indecency, spending time in prison and leaving the UK on his release.
What Boyne undertakes here is a historical 'what if' moment? What if Wilde didn't respond to the Marquess's calling card? What if he ignored it and didn't end up bringing charges or ending up in prison himself? What if he lived through the key moments of the early 20th century, influencing key events, meeting key people like Emmeline Pankhurst and Winston Churchill.
At 624 pages, this book is epic however I could have read on and on. Sometimes with books of this length, I find myself scanning to get through it more quickly, however, much like Wilde, Boyne's writing is so clever and witty than I devoured every word on every page.
I couldn't recommend this book enough.
Thanks to Netgalley, and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Definitely my favourite book of the year so far, and it will taken something special to beat it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In "The Weight of Angels", John Boyne once again takes on social complexities, topics, and structures that a lesser writer might shy away from. In “The Weight of Angels” Boyne creates an alternative history where Oscar Wilde lives to the ripe old age of 98. This allows Boyne to bring Wilde together with many of the important people who lived during his now extended life span, thus creating an interesting commentary on history and the issues of our time.
What worked well were the relationships between the central characters. The band of people who Boyne creates or borrows from history to share the stage with Wilde are interesting. The more important players are given depth and complexity, and the reader is given enough information to imagine them having lives outside the limited stage where the lights shine directly on Wilde.
The novel is 600 pages long and some of the Oscar Wilde style wit begins to feel sharp and cutting a fraction of the way into the novel. It made me think that perhaps this sort of humor is best served in small quantities. That said, there was a lot of humor and wit in this novel. There was also cruelty, egotism, and often a lack of compassion. Some of this felt real to the characters. However, some of it felt gratuitous, included to create a laugh, a punchline, or a timed emotional response. I imagine the Oscar Wilde portrayed in this novel giving it a scathing review, especially if he perceived the author as a threat to his revered reputation.
I enjoyed much of this novel, and I had the sense Boyne enjoyed writing it. There was often a sense of play, at times a sense of humor, and always a strong imagination aligning possibilities for maximum impact. However, it could have been tightened and edited so the story shone even brighter.
Perhaps Boyne deliberately wrote this imagining a very long play. Each line is meant to create an effect. The humor cuts like a sword and the audience laughs on cue. The lights shine on Oscar, always on Oscar. It’s Wilde. It’s “Lord Wilde”. It’s all in the delivery – we can only hope Fionn doesn’t get the lead.
Not Boyne’s best book, but a daring literary experiment. If it were shorter, I would highly recommend reading it to see Boyne’s renditions of the historical figures and to think about the juxtaposition of language and wit on the realities of relationships, egoism, and public image.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for access to this ARC.
What worked well were the relationships between the central characters. The band of people who Boyne creates or borrows from history to share the stage with Wilde are interesting. The more important players are given depth and complexity, and the reader is given enough information to imagine them having lives outside the limited stage where the lights shine directly on Wilde.
The novel is 600 pages long and some of the Oscar Wilde style wit begins to feel sharp and cutting a fraction of the way into the novel. It made me think that perhaps this sort of humor is best served in small quantities. That said, there was a lot of humor and wit in this novel. There was also cruelty, egotism, and often a lack of compassion. Some of this felt real to the characters. However, some of it felt gratuitous, included to create a laugh, a punchline, or a timed emotional response. I imagine the Oscar Wilde portrayed in this novel giving it a scathing review, especially if he perceived the author as a threat to his revered reputation.
I enjoyed much of this novel, and I had the sense Boyne enjoyed writing it. There was often a sense of play, at times a sense of humor, and always a strong imagination aligning possibilities for maximum impact. However, it could have been tightened and edited so the story shone even brighter.
Perhaps Boyne deliberately wrote this imagining a very long play. Each line is meant to create an effect. The humor cuts like a sword and the audience laughs on cue. The lights shine on Oscar, always on Oscar. It’s Wilde. It’s “Lord Wilde”. It’s all in the delivery – we can only hope Fionn doesn’t get the lead.
Not Boyne’s best book, but a daring literary experiment. If it were shorter, I would highly recommend reading it to see Boyne’s renditions of the historical figures and to think about the juxtaposition of language and wit on the realities of relationships, egoism, and public image.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for access to this ARC.
May 4, 2026
Wow just wow I adored this book I’m sad it’s finished
Sometimes reviewing novels is such a joy and I was absolutely delighted to be granted access to this novel early on NetGalley UK.
This novel looks at the intriguing prospect that instead of being imprisoned for homosexuality and dying at a young age disgraced that Oscar’s life took on a different path where he survived and thrived Living into his 90s his homosexuality only becoming known to the public when he’s extremely elderly and when public opinion has changed dramatically and he is able to influence a change in law to decriminalise homosexuality.
Joan Boyne is one of my favourites novelists I have yet to read a book of his that I didn’t absolutely adore. Starting to read, I have high expectations for this book.
The First chapter is set at a dinner party where Oscar Wilde and his lover Boise and other friends are discussing the fact that Oscar has been sent a calling card saying for “Oscar Wilde posing sodomite” .In our world this is the trigger to Oscar’s ultimate arrest and imprisonment in the world of the novel the insult is ignored and his life continues
I loved the scene of the conversation between Elgar and Oscar Wilde at the Coronation.
The author really does nail Oscars wit and his language is perfect so that you really feel that you are listening to the way the author of the importance of being Ernest would actually speak and behave
After reading several of the authors shorter novellas recently it’s a delight to be able to read a full length novel I really didn’t want this one to end and read it in one sitting. This is quite a chunky book it took me a few days to read but I was cross when it was over.
I was amused by the section where he discusses the negative implications of writing long novels because of course this was a long novel
there’s lots of discussion about famous Irish writers and potential animosity between them and this very amusing considering of course that the author himself is now a famous Irish novelist
Of course with Oscar Wilde being the centre of the novel there is a lot of discussion about homosexuality. I was rather glad when I discovered that the author himself is gay I felt probably lived experience as necessary in order to write this novel.
I loved this line and I hope it goes for all my friends and family who are avid readers
“People who read lead the happiest lives”
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 24th of September 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers/double day.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com after publication it will also Care on Amazon UK and Waterstones online
Sometimes reviewing novels is such a joy and I was absolutely delighted to be granted access to this novel early on NetGalley UK.
This novel looks at the intriguing prospect that instead of being imprisoned for homosexuality and dying at a young age disgraced that Oscar’s life took on a different path where he survived and thrived Living into his 90s his homosexuality only becoming known to the public when he’s extremely elderly and when public opinion has changed dramatically and he is able to influence a change in law to decriminalise homosexuality.
Joan Boyne is one of my favourites novelists I have yet to read a book of his that I didn’t absolutely adore. Starting to read, I have high expectations for this book.
The First chapter is set at a dinner party where Oscar Wilde and his lover Boise and other friends are discussing the fact that Oscar has been sent a calling card saying for “Oscar Wilde posing sodomite” .In our world this is the trigger to Oscar’s ultimate arrest and imprisonment in the world of the novel the insult is ignored and his life continues
I loved the scene of the conversation between Elgar and Oscar Wilde at the Coronation.
The author really does nail Oscars wit and his language is perfect so that you really feel that you are listening to the way the author of the importance of being Ernest would actually speak and behave
After reading several of the authors shorter novellas recently it’s a delight to be able to read a full length novel I really didn’t want this one to end and read it in one sitting. This is quite a chunky book it took me a few days to read but I was cross when it was over.
I was amused by the section where he discusses the negative implications of writing long novels because of course this was a long novel
there’s lots of discussion about famous Irish writers and potential animosity between them and this very amusing considering of course that the author himself is now a famous Irish novelist
Of course with Oscar Wilde being the centre of the novel there is a lot of discussion about homosexuality. I was rather glad when I discovered that the author himself is gay I felt probably lived experience as necessary in order to write this novel.
I loved this line and I hope it goes for all my friends and family who are avid readers
“People who read lead the happiest lives”
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 24th of September 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers/double day.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com after publication it will also Care on Amazon UK and Waterstones online
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have read The Portrait of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest, but I can’t claim to know much about Oscar Wilde himself, beyond knowing he was witty, gay, and died at a relatively young age after accusations of sodomy.
This book explores how Wilde’s life may have played out had he turned the other cheek to the accusation, and wow, does John Boyne make it feel like these are real historical events.
A large part of his ability to reimagine Oscar’s life so vividly is a cast of characters both real and fictional, a constant ebb and flow of high and low points in the long-lived Oscar’s life, and a perfect imagining of Wilde’s notorious wit as he interacted with all the people he never actually met.
The imagined characters are the ones who give depth to Wilde’s character, showing generosity and weakness, but the rivalries with fellow authors like Stoker and Yeats, and friendships with Winston Churchill and Katherine Hepburn allow the reader to imagine all the people he may have crossed paths with had he lived a longer life.
By having Wilde choose not to respond to accusations about his sexuality early in life, Boyne puts him on a path where he has to weigh when to speak out about inequality, both with the women’s suffrage movement and with queer rights. He doesn’t always make what is the best decision, but they do feel like very human choices, and it sets up good closure for the novel.
Pretty much the only drawback to this book for me was its length, which is almost six hundred pages. Clearly, Boyne gives Wilde a lot more life to live! But with as clever as Oscar is, it is better read (at least for me) in small sips of champagne to truly appreciate the bubbles. This meant the book took me longer to read than I expected it would when I started reading it.
I would recommend reading it the same way to anyone else, so they can truly appreciate the mastery of how Boyne has given Wilde a life he never had, and done it so well that’s after reading this it’s hard to believe isn’t real.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book explores how Wilde’s life may have played out had he turned the other cheek to the accusation, and wow, does John Boyne make it feel like these are real historical events.
A large part of his ability to reimagine Oscar’s life so vividly is a cast of characters both real and fictional, a constant ebb and flow of high and low points in the long-lived Oscar’s life, and a perfect imagining of Wilde’s notorious wit as he interacted with all the people he never actually met.
The imagined characters are the ones who give depth to Wilde’s character, showing generosity and weakness, but the rivalries with fellow authors like Stoker and Yeats, and friendships with Winston Churchill and Katherine Hepburn allow the reader to imagine all the people he may have crossed paths with had he lived a longer life.
By having Wilde choose not to respond to accusations about his sexuality early in life, Boyne puts him on a path where he has to weigh when to speak out about inequality, both with the women’s suffrage movement and with queer rights. He doesn’t always make what is the best decision, but they do feel like very human choices, and it sets up good closure for the novel.
Pretty much the only drawback to this book for me was its length, which is almost six hundred pages. Clearly, Boyne gives Wilde a lot more life to live! But with as clever as Oscar is, it is better read (at least for me) in small sips of champagne to truly appreciate the bubbles. This meant the book took me longer to read than I expected it would when I started reading it.
I would recommend reading it the same way to anyone else, so they can truly appreciate the mastery of how Boyne has given Wilde a life he never had, and done it so well that’s after reading this it’s hard to believe isn’t real.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Absolutely masterful and deeply thought-provoking, The Weight of Angels reimagines the life Oscar Wilde might have lived, seamlessly blending historical reality with rich speculation as the narrative unfolds.
As the title suggests, the novel explores the value of our actions and the consequences they carry. Through a compelling “what if…” premise, John Boyne crafts a sweeping story that spans nearly a century, offering a nuanced reflection on societal change, attitudes toward sexuality, and the enduring weight of moral judgement. It is both provocative and illuminating in its themes.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Wilde’s voice, capturing his trademark wit and sparkling wordplay with echoes of The Importance of Being Earnest. The text is rich with literary allusion, and its reimagining of historical figures is both vivid and engaging. Bosie, in particular, is rendered with complexity and humour. The epistolary elements—especially the letters to and from Florence Stoker—serve as an effective anchor, offering insight into Wilde’s character while subtly reinforcing themes of transgression. They also hint at a fascinating connection between Wilde and the publication of Dracula.
Here, Wilde’s journey is beautifully realised, populated by characters who feel timeless and authentic. Gus and Parsnip are especially memorable—deeply human, sympathetic, and richly drawn. Each could easily sustain a novel of their own. While readers familiar with Wilde’s life will find much to appreciate, no prior expertise is required; the world Boyne creates is immersive and captivating in its own right.
Though the novel is expansive, it is utterly absorbing—I found myself devouring it in just a few days, completely transported. As the text suggests, it feels like “a perfect final adventure” for this imagined Wilde: a luxurious, champagne-soaked delight that is as moving as it is memorable.
As the title suggests, the novel explores the value of our actions and the consequences they carry. Through a compelling “what if…” premise, John Boyne crafts a sweeping story that spans nearly a century, offering a nuanced reflection on societal change, attitudes toward sexuality, and the enduring weight of moral judgement. It is both provocative and illuminating in its themes.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of Wilde’s voice, capturing his trademark wit and sparkling wordplay with echoes of The Importance of Being Earnest. The text is rich with literary allusion, and its reimagining of historical figures is both vivid and engaging. Bosie, in particular, is rendered with complexity and humour. The epistolary elements—especially the letters to and from Florence Stoker—serve as an effective anchor, offering insight into Wilde’s character while subtly reinforcing themes of transgression. They also hint at a fascinating connection between Wilde and the publication of Dracula.
Here, Wilde’s journey is beautifully realised, populated by characters who feel timeless and authentic. Gus and Parsnip are especially memorable—deeply human, sympathetic, and richly drawn. Each could easily sustain a novel of their own. While readers familiar with Wilde’s life will find much to appreciate, no prior expertise is required; the world Boyne creates is immersive and captivating in its own right.
Though the novel is expansive, it is utterly absorbing—I found myself devouring it in just a few days, completely transported. As the text suggests, it feels like “a perfect final adventure” for this imagined Wilde: a luxurious, champagne-soaked delight that is as moving as it is memorable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was so excited when I recieved this book and it did not disappoint.
The story is told primarily through prose, but is interspersed with letters and articles and even bits written as a play or movie that served their purpose in interesting and effective ways. The dialogue is generally snappy and witty, as would be expected for a book where Oscar Wilde is a main character. I was not expecting the amount of humor, but it was a delightful surprise, with some scenes I can only describe as zany. But along with the humor, there was also a lot of heart and emotion (in particular, I loved everything about the relationship with Augustus).
The story starts at the expected point: Wilde deciding not to pursue a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry. The first part follows actual events somewhat closely (though this time Wilde is not the one who's living them). But once the narrative departed from that, I was never quite sure exactly what to expect next, and it definitely did take some interesting turns, but it was always intriguing, emotional, and realistic despite some occasionally over-the-top silliness.
The portrayal of Wilde is complicated and nuanced, not shying away from his real-life flaws or assuming he would have overcome those had he lived longer. In fact, I wouldn't even call this version of Wilde particularly likeable in many respects, which I think is a good thing and serves to make the story feel more realistic. Many of the scenes imagine Wilde interacting with a number of famous figures throughout different decades, and I was particularly delighted by the inclusion of a few scenes with W.B. Yeats, as that was one of the "what if" scenarios I was hoping would be explored in this book, as well as the running gag of poking fun at George Bernard Shaw.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The story is told primarily through prose, but is interspersed with letters and articles and even bits written as a play or movie that served their purpose in interesting and effective ways. The dialogue is generally snappy and witty, as would be expected for a book where Oscar Wilde is a main character. I was not expecting the amount of humor, but it was a delightful surprise, with some scenes I can only describe as zany. But along with the humor, there was also a lot of heart and emotion (in particular, I loved everything about the relationship with Augustus).
The story starts at the expected point: Wilde deciding not to pursue a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry. The first part follows actual events somewhat closely (though this time Wilde is not the one who's living them). But once the narrative departed from that, I was never quite sure exactly what to expect next, and it definitely did take some interesting turns, but it was always intriguing, emotional, and realistic despite some occasionally over-the-top silliness.
The portrayal of Wilde is complicated and nuanced, not shying away from his real-life flaws or assuming he would have overcome those had he lived longer. In fact, I wouldn't even call this version of Wilde particularly likeable in many respects, which I think is a good thing and serves to make the story feel more realistic. Many of the scenes imagine Wilde interacting with a number of famous figures throughout different decades, and I was particularly delighted by the inclusion of a few scenes with W.B. Yeats, as that was one of the "what if" scenarios I was hoping would be explored in this book, as well as the running gag of poking fun at George Bernard Shaw.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"There are moments when I feel suffocated beneath the weight of angels, and I wonder whether, when my own time comes, those same seraphim will carry me to my reward, or simply watch as I am punished for my sins"
I was first drawn to this book due to the author. I have read (and LOVED) The Hearts Invisible Furies, and Earth. Both were emotional and moving.
This book imagines what would have happened if Oscar Wilde had chosen NOT to response to the Marquess of Queensbury (which ultimately led to his imprisonment and eventual death) and instead carried on with his life. The characterisation of Oscar Wilde in this books is simply perfection. I initially found his character hard to like - he was egotistical, callous at times, came across rude - but ultimately, it became clear that Wilde was a person in progress, and this book takes the opportunity to show you that progress and what could have been.
The cast of characters that Wilde meets is endless. He converses with and strikes up relationships with a whole host of well-known figures (Yeats, the Woolf’s, Keats and so on.) There is also a humorous rivalry with George Bernard Shaw that crops up frequently. Oscar's dealings with other writers, playwriters and actors prove to be engaging and interesting.
At the centre of this book is the question of homosexuality and its legality. Oscar Wilde is well known to have been gay (as per his imprisonment), so it was interesting to see how that story was dealt with after he was not imprisoned for it.
But I think the strongest aspect of the book was Boyne's ability to write the dialogue of Wilde and those around him. It was humous and witty, making me grin often. If you enjoyed other books by Boyne, I would absolutely recommend this. It is fabulous literary fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy!
I was first drawn to this book due to the author. I have read (and LOVED) The Hearts Invisible Furies, and Earth. Both were emotional and moving.
This book imagines what would have happened if Oscar Wilde had chosen NOT to response to the Marquess of Queensbury (which ultimately led to his imprisonment and eventual death) and instead carried on with his life. The characterisation of Oscar Wilde in this books is simply perfection. I initially found his character hard to like - he was egotistical, callous at times, came across rude - but ultimately, it became clear that Wilde was a person in progress, and this book takes the opportunity to show you that progress and what could have been.
The cast of characters that Wilde meets is endless. He converses with and strikes up relationships with a whole host of well-known figures (Yeats, the Woolf’s, Keats and so on.) There is also a humorous rivalry with George Bernard Shaw that crops up frequently. Oscar's dealings with other writers, playwriters and actors prove to be engaging and interesting.
At the centre of this book is the question of homosexuality and its legality. Oscar Wilde is well known to have been gay (as per his imprisonment), so it was interesting to see how that story was dealt with after he was not imprisoned for it.
But I think the strongest aspect of the book was Boyne's ability to write the dialogue of Wilde and those around him. It was humous and witty, making me grin often. If you enjoyed other books by Boyne, I would absolutely recommend this. It is fabulous literary fiction.
Thanks to Netgalley for an early copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is the most absurd work of Mary Sue fanfic I’ve ever read.
The Weight of Angels by John Boyne is the speculative story which answers the question: what if Oscar Wilde hadn’t sued the Marquess of Queensbury? What path could his life have taken? And the answer is every bit as self-indulgently purple a work of prose as I could ever have imagined.
Full disclosure: I don’t like fanfic, I don’t read fanfic, I dislike the fanficification of modern publishing. But this is John Boyne. Celebrated, award winning Irish novelist and author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Absolutist. I had to see his vision. And it did not disappoint.
Mary Sue Wilde does EVERYTHING!!!
SEE Oscar broker a truce between Thelma Furness and Wallis Simpson!! THRILL as he convinces Churchill to bring up gay decriminalization in parliament which he does and it passes and they call it Oscar’s Law! MARVEL at the kooky Woolfs as Oscar proposes Hogarth Press publish the long poem Bosie wrote when HE went to prison!! So much sexual and racial justice and equality you’ll laugh and cry!!
He goes to Hollywood and invents Hepburn and Tracy. He wins an Oscar and a Nobel Prize and an OBE. He meets and advises and influences any gay person you can think of in that time. Even Truman Capote and Gore Vidal sail across the sea to worship at his, em, feet. The only one left out was poor Alan Turing, though I kept expecting him to pop up and give the old boy a pep talk, toss his apple out the window.
This is to say nothing of the plays and poems Mr Boyne creates in the style of. It may seem like I’ve spoiled a lot, but I assure you I have barely scratched the surface of this sizable tome.
This book is a delight to read, and I highly recommend it. Especially if you need a literary laugh. I’m not sure if that was what Mr Boyne intended, but I still give it 2 stars.
The Weight of Angels by John Boyne is the speculative story which answers the question: what if Oscar Wilde hadn’t sued the Marquess of Queensbury? What path could his life have taken? And the answer is every bit as self-indulgently purple a work of prose as I could ever have imagined.
Full disclosure: I don’t like fanfic, I don’t read fanfic, I dislike the fanficification of modern publishing. But this is John Boyne. Celebrated, award winning Irish novelist and author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Absolutist. I had to see his vision. And it did not disappoint.
Mary Sue Wilde does EVERYTHING!!!
SEE Oscar broker a truce between Thelma Furness and Wallis Simpson!! THRILL as he convinces Churchill to bring up gay decriminalization in parliament which he does and it passes and they call it Oscar’s Law! MARVEL at the kooky Woolfs as Oscar proposes Hogarth Press publish the long poem Bosie wrote when HE went to prison!! So much sexual and racial justice and equality you’ll laugh and cry!!
He goes to Hollywood and invents Hepburn and Tracy. He wins an Oscar and a Nobel Prize and an OBE. He meets and advises and influences any gay person you can think of in that time. Even Truman Capote and Gore Vidal sail across the sea to worship at his, em, feet. The only one left out was poor Alan Turing, though I kept expecting him to pop up and give the old boy a pep talk, toss his apple out the window.
This is to say nothing of the plays and poems Mr Boyne creates in the style of. It may seem like I’ve spoiled a lot, but I assure you I have barely scratched the surface of this sizable tome.
This book is a delight to read, and I highly recommend it. Especially if you need a literary laugh. I’m not sure if that was what Mr Boyne intended, but I still give it 2 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
I love John Boyne’s writing (The Heart’s Invisible Furies, anyone?!), and I was eager to read his latest. I knew going in that this was an alternate history of Oscar Wilde’s life had he not gone to prison and subsequently died at a young age, but frankly I knew almost nothing about Oscar Wilde’s life going into this. If you don’t know much about Oscar Wilde, I’d encourage perusing his Wikipedia BEFORE starting this novel.
🩷 John Boyne has an obvious fondness for Oscar Wilde and his work that comes through so well.
🩷 Oscar experiences maturation and self-reflection throughout the novel, as one might hope of someone who lives to almost 100 years old.
🩷 If you love clever banter, this will be heaven for you.
Favorite witticism: When Oscar Wilde meets Billy Wilder, “Wilde and Wilder. Perhaps we could find a fellow named Wildest and ask him to complete the trio?”
⚠️ I do like some clever banter, but this is 600 PAGES of clever banter. About 25% in, I came to the realization that this was the entire book.
⚠️ Not much plot. It’s endless scenes of clever banter, letters, and scripts with appearances from some people I’ve heard of and many I haven’t.
⚠️ Would Oscar Wilde, had he not gone to prison, have lived to almost 100 years old and have a Forrest Gump-like experience of running into everyone from Katharine Hepburn to Prince/King Charles and single-handedly advance LGBTQ rights? Not likely, but it’s an interesting take.
If you like witty barbs being slung back and forth and appearances from writers, actors, other creatives, and royalty, then this novel could be right up your alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes on September 29, 2026.
I love John Boyne’s writing (The Heart’s Invisible Furies, anyone?!), and I was eager to read his latest. I knew going in that this was an alternate history of Oscar Wilde’s life had he not gone to prison and subsequently died at a young age, but frankly I knew almost nothing about Oscar Wilde’s life going into this. If you don’t know much about Oscar Wilde, I’d encourage perusing his Wikipedia BEFORE starting this novel.
🩷 John Boyne has an obvious fondness for Oscar Wilde and his work that comes through so well.
🩷 Oscar experiences maturation and self-reflection throughout the novel, as one might hope of someone who lives to almost 100 years old.
🩷 If you love clever banter, this will be heaven for you.
Favorite witticism: When Oscar Wilde meets Billy Wilder, “Wilde and Wilder. Perhaps we could find a fellow named Wildest and ask him to complete the trio?”
⚠️ I do like some clever banter, but this is 600 PAGES of clever banter. About 25% in, I came to the realization that this was the entire book.
⚠️ Not much plot. It’s endless scenes of clever banter, letters, and scripts with appearances from some people I’ve heard of and many I haven’t.
⚠️ Would Oscar Wilde, had he not gone to prison, have lived to almost 100 years old and have a Forrest Gump-like experience of running into everyone from Katharine Hepburn to Prince/King Charles and single-handedly advance LGBTQ rights? Not likely, but it’s an interesting take.
If you like witty barbs being slung back and forth and appearances from writers, actors, other creatives, and royalty, then this novel could be right up your alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an Advance Reader Copy. My review is completely my own.
It publishes on September 29, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A beautiful book that touches on the soul of a man.
The Weights of Angels is an alternative history of what might have happened had Oscar Wilde lived into old age. The story opens at a sliding doors moment, where instead of taking the Marquis of Queensbury to court over an insult, Wilde turns the other cheek and walks away. This moment is crucial because in reality the law suit ruined Wilde financially, he was convicted, and sent to jail which ruined his health. In this alternative story, the question “what might Wilde have achieved had he lived?” is answered.
This is a moving read that starts strongly, dips slightly in the middle, and then exceeds expectations at the end. I can almost see this becoming a classic book read in schools, with the moving account of historical attitudes to homosexuality and what it took to change the law.
This is a book to stand back and take in the big picture, as the beauty lies in the changes Wilde undergoes over his lifetime, and self-realisation about how his actions impacted and hurt other people. This is underpinned by the realisation that love is more important than lust, and the maturity required to recognise this. Oh, and in case you were wondering the ‘weight of angels’ refers to Wilde’s conscience and those he loved who passed away.
Now I want to go back and reference the historical events mentioned, to see how they actually came about and how they differ from the fictional version with the addition of Wilde. A thought provoking read, but please don’t think this is code for dull, because the book evokes powerful emotions and is engrossing and enjoyable in equal measure.
The Weights of Angels is an alternative history of what might have happened had Oscar Wilde lived into old age. The story opens at a sliding doors moment, where instead of taking the Marquis of Queensbury to court over an insult, Wilde turns the other cheek and walks away. This moment is crucial because in reality the law suit ruined Wilde financially, he was convicted, and sent to jail which ruined his health. In this alternative story, the question “what might Wilde have achieved had he lived?” is answered.
This is a moving read that starts strongly, dips slightly in the middle, and then exceeds expectations at the end. I can almost see this becoming a classic book read in schools, with the moving account of historical attitudes to homosexuality and what it took to change the law.
This is a book to stand back and take in the big picture, as the beauty lies in the changes Wilde undergoes over his lifetime, and self-realisation about how his actions impacted and hurt other people. This is underpinned by the realisation that love is more important than lust, and the maturity required to recognise this. Oh, and in case you were wondering the ‘weight of angels’ refers to Wilde’s conscience and those he loved who passed away.
Now I want to go back and reference the historical events mentioned, to see how they actually came about and how they differ from the fictional version with the addition of Wilde. A thought provoking read, but please don’t think this is code for dull, because the book evokes powerful emotions and is engrossing and enjoyable in equal measure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This engaging and well-researched speculative tale imagines how Oscar Wilde’s life may have turned out if he hadn’t been imprisoned for gross indecency in 1895 and suffered subsequent ill health as a result, causing his early demise. Instead, his hot-headed lover Bosie inadvertently suffers the fate that befell Wilde, while Wilde himself prolongs his own life through, inter alia, a new partner’s simple insistence that he participate in regular exercise.
Political talking points expose Wilde’s apathy towards or reluctance to get involved with causes, whether personal or societal, which he later rectifies. Indeed, he’s taken to task by none other than Churchill, in an imagined 1930, for use of the term “cause”, as it suggests a crusade that puts politicians off embracing such issues. Both universal suffrage and the possibility of gay rights feature here. Nationalism becomes briefly prominent, with the 1916 Rising serving as a recent backdrop for the hero’s discussions with Yeats as they walk through Dublin. The dark clouds of the Great War loom over events. Meanwhile, Oscar deliberates about whether he should accept a knighthood for his cultural contributions from a monarch who rules over an Ireland that wants to be free of his yoke.
The richly-drawn characters from the period’s high society—a number of which the reader will no doubt be familiar with from real history and culture—are among the many elements that make this novel a superb and imaginative peek into early twentieth-century life. This alternate-history novel might also compel the reader to learn more about the works of Oscar Wilde and the period more broadly, which would be no bad thing at all.
Political talking points expose Wilde’s apathy towards or reluctance to get involved with causes, whether personal or societal, which he later rectifies. Indeed, he’s taken to task by none other than Churchill, in an imagined 1930, for use of the term “cause”, as it suggests a crusade that puts politicians off embracing such issues. Both universal suffrage and the possibility of gay rights feature here. Nationalism becomes briefly prominent, with the 1916 Rising serving as a recent backdrop for the hero’s discussions with Yeats as they walk through Dublin. The dark clouds of the Great War loom over events. Meanwhile, Oscar deliberates about whether he should accept a knighthood for his cultural contributions from a monarch who rules over an Ireland that wants to be free of his yoke.
The richly-drawn characters from the period’s high society—a number of which the reader will no doubt be familiar with from real history and culture—are among the many elements that make this novel a superb and imaginative peek into early twentieth-century life. This alternate-history novel might also compel the reader to learn more about the works of Oscar Wilde and the period more broadly, which would be no bad thing at all.
August 13, 2026
John Boyne's books are fabulous. So I was pleased to win this advance copy of his THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS through librarything.com even though it's such a door-stopper. Its size might have scared me if it was written by almost any other author.
The beginning of this book put me off, though. It gave me the same kind of feeling I got from the beginning of WAR AND PEACE. But Boyne's way with words surpasses, I think, Tolstoy's. The conversations in THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS made me want to read it, all 577 pages.
In this book we are to suppose that Oscar Wilde never went to prison for his homosexuality and didn't die soon after. This (homosexuality) is a subject that Boyne discusses in all his books I've read so far, some more than others. In this case, you could say the whole book is about gay (a word not used to mean "homosexual" in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, or 50s) issues.
Throughout THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS are historical people in literature, politics, and the entertainment industry. As far as I could tell, Boyne sticks to the truth as much as possible with Wilde in the picture, not dead but alive and well and outspoken. Notice how he first does this by reversing the roles of Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, his friend and lover.
I expected that THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS would be about all the great literature Wilde might have produced if he had not gone to prison and subsequently died when he was still a young man. And it is. But it is also about how he might have dealt with his own homosexuality and the good he might have accomplished by including homosexuality in all his writings (as Boyne, himself, does). Wilde might have seen the legalization of homosexuality in England.
The beginning of this book put me off, though. It gave me the same kind of feeling I got from the beginning of WAR AND PEACE. But Boyne's way with words surpasses, I think, Tolstoy's. The conversations in THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS made me want to read it, all 577 pages.
In this book we are to suppose that Oscar Wilde never went to prison for his homosexuality and didn't die soon after. This (homosexuality) is a subject that Boyne discusses in all his books I've read so far, some more than others. In this case, you could say the whole book is about gay (a word not used to mean "homosexual" in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, or 50s) issues.
Throughout THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS are historical people in literature, politics, and the entertainment industry. As far as I could tell, Boyne sticks to the truth as much as possible with Wilde in the picture, not dead but alive and well and outspoken. Notice how he first does this by reversing the roles of Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, his friend and lover.
I expected that THE WEIGHT OF ANGELS would be about all the great literature Wilde might have produced if he had not gone to prison and subsequently died when he was still a young man. And it is. But it is also about how he might have dealt with his own homosexuality and the good he might have accomplished by including homosexuality in all his writings (as Boyne, himself, does). Wilde might have seen the legalization of homosexuality in England.
May 23, 2026
4.5 stars
The weight of angels proved to be a fascinating and touching book.
I have to admit that, having read it as an ebook, I wasn’t quite aware while starting it that it is quite a long book of almost 600 pages — but I am happy for it as it allowed me to enjoy the writing and the story that much longer.
The premise of the book fascinated me and was the main reason for me to pick up the book. Back when I was still in high school we covered some of Oscar Wilde’s work and I remember thoroughly enjoying working through the plays at the time. So a historical fiction about Oscar Wilde’s life had he not been incarcerated for sodomy and gross indecency, and not died an early death did sound intriguing.
At times, I wasn’t sure where we were heading in the story or how things would turn out. But now, having finished it, I can say that John Boyne did deliver. Stick with it and enjoy the story.
Loved the writing style. Felt convinced by the characters and could feel some of the moral ambiguities and struggles over time.
I feel inspired to go back and read more of Oscar Wilde’s works. And although this was a fiction, I do feel like I’ve come out of this book with a new perspective and interest on his works. Furthermore, I am also most definitively looking forward to exploring more of John Boyne’s books after having read this novel.
Definitively recommended.
I want to thank Random House UK, Netgalley and John Boyne for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
The weight of angels proved to be a fascinating and touching book.
I have to admit that, having read it as an ebook, I wasn’t quite aware while starting it that it is quite a long book of almost 600 pages — but I am happy for it as it allowed me to enjoy the writing and the story that much longer.
The premise of the book fascinated me and was the main reason for me to pick up the book. Back when I was still in high school we covered some of Oscar Wilde’s work and I remember thoroughly enjoying working through the plays at the time. So a historical fiction about Oscar Wilde’s life had he not been incarcerated for sodomy and gross indecency, and not died an early death did sound intriguing.
At times, I wasn’t sure where we were heading in the story or how things would turn out. But now, having finished it, I can say that John Boyne did deliver. Stick with it and enjoy the story.
Loved the writing style. Felt convinced by the characters and could feel some of the moral ambiguities and struggles over time.
I feel inspired to go back and read more of Oscar Wilde’s works. And although this was a fiction, I do feel like I’ve come out of this book with a new perspective and interest on his works. Furthermore, I am also most definitively looking forward to exploring more of John Boyne’s books after having read this novel.
Definitively recommended.
I want to thank Random House UK, Netgalley and John Boyne for providing me with an advanced reader copy.
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