By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables’ beloved independent bookstore, Books & Books, will welcome Florida International University professor Michael Patrick Gillespie on Sunday, July 20, for an evening centered on the life and literary legacy of Oscar Wilde. The free public event begins at 6 p.m. at the store’s flagship location at 265 Aragon Avenue.
Gillespie will discuss his new book, Reading Oscar Wilde: An Introduction, published by Routledge. The event will include a conversation with Sarah Kavanagh, Consul General of Ireland in Miami, whose office has partnered with Books & Books to present the program. Books will be available for purchase on-site, and attendees may reserve a copy in advance through the store’s website.
Guided entry into Wilde’s world
Reading Oscar Wilde offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Wilde’s writings, tailored for students and general readers encountering the author’s work for the first time. The book covers the full breadth of Wilde’s literary output—from plays and essays to fiction and poetry—and contextualizes his pioneering approach to style and satire within both Victorian society and modern literary theory.
Each chapter provides a freestanding discussion of a specific work, offering readers interpretive guidance, literary background, and insights into Wilde’s enduring cultural relevance. The volume also includes a chronology of Wilde’s publications, a curated list of artistic adaptations, and an annotated bibliography for further study.
According to the publisher, the book aims to build a solid foundation for understanding Wilde while also introducing readers to the evolving body of scholarship that surrounds his work. Contemporary literary theory, including queer studies, postcolonialism, and deconstruction, plays a role in the interpretive framework Gillespie offers.
Scholar of Wilde, Joyce and literary film
Michael Patrick Gillespie is a professor of English at Florida International University and the former Louise Edna Goeden Professor of English at Marquette University. Over a career spanning four decades, he has published extensively on James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Kennedy, and the intersections between literature and film.
His previous books include Oscar Wilde and the Poetics of Ambiguity, Reading the Book: James Joyce and the Practice of Reception, and The Aesthetics of Chaos: Nonlinear Thinking and Contemporary Literary Criticism. Known for his ability to bring complex literary theory into public conversation, Gillespie has earned a reputation as a thoughtful guide to canonical works of literature.
The upcoming discussion offers Coral Gables readers a chance to hear from one of Florida’s most seasoned literary scholars in an intimate and intellectually engaging setting.
In conversation with Ireland’s top diplomat in Florida
Joining Gillespie in conversation will be Sarah Kavanagh, Consul General of Ireland in Miami. Appointed in 2022, Kavanagh leads Ireland’s first permanent diplomatic post in Florida and has been active in promoting Irish arts, literature, and cultural diplomacy throughout the southeastern United States.
Kavanagh previously served in Dublin as Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Human Rights Unit and as a senior adviser to ministers in both the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She holds multiple advanced degrees in law, politics, and political communication from institutions including University College Dublin, Dublin City University, and the Honorable Society of King’s Inns.
Her presence at the event reflects Ireland’s continued investment in promoting the works of Irish writers, both classic and contemporary, and underscores Oscar Wilde’s lasting stature as one of the most influential figures in Irish letters.
Literary engagement in the heart of Coral Gables
Books & Books has long served as a cornerstone of literary life in South Florida, hosting events that draw authors, academics, and diplomats into public dialogue with the community. Sunday’s event is free of charge and open to the public. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For those unable to attend in person, Reading Oscar Wilde is available for order through the store’s website. The event promises to blend literary scholarship, Irish cultural heritage, and thoughtful discussion in the setting of one of Coral Gables’ most enduring civic spaces.
For more information or to reserve a copy of the book, visit booksandbooks.com.
