Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival: Gyles Brandreth

Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival: Gyles Brandreth

Writer, broadcaster and former MP Gyles Brandreth packed out the Hollingworth Suite at Number One Riverside for a discussion about Oscar Wilde at the Literature and Ideas Festival today (Sunday 27 October).

Gyles, who learnt about Oscar Wilde whilst at boarding school, has published a series of murder mysteries starring Oscar Wilde and author Arthur Conan Doyle as lead detectives.

Gyles said: “These stories are nice because it is like walking in Oscar Wilde’s footsteps.”

The stories all take place in Victorian times and the first book starts with the first meeting of Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle. The two then decide to work together on the mystery of the candlelight murders.

“These books can be seen as a serial biography of Oscar Wilde,” added Gyles.

There are six books in the Oscar Wilde murder mystery series, a series that Gyles decided to write when being asked by his wife who he wanted to write about next.

The Victorian age also prompted Gyles to write the series. He said: “I like writing about the Victorian age because it lives in the present but is still very distant.”

Gyles also praised the first Literature and Ideas Festival and said: “It is a brilliant event and is such a huge success. This is a beautiful building and the festival is a great idea.”

Gyles has written a number of books including ‘7 Secrets of Happiness’ and biographies of the Queen and the Duke of Cambridge. He is also well known for his work on The One show and BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute.