Gyles Brandreth is a British writer, broadcaster, actor and former Conservative Member of Parliament. Nowadays he is also an after-dinner speaker - and recently did his bit at a literary lunch.
He told a story about how he presented a copy of his latest Oscar Wilde novel - he has done a series of them - to a friend in Paris, France.
Several days later he found the very same book in the second hand section of a local bookshop - quite a coincidence. Or maybe the book was simply not to his friend's taste - but, whatever, it's a mystery as to how it travelled all the way from Paris.
Gyles said about this, "So I bought it and popped it in the post back to him with a new inscription which read: 'To Gill with even greater admiration and love'"
His wife, Michele, has confirmed that the story is 'totally true'.
The inspiration to write the Oscar Wilde books also came about by coincidence.
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| Oscar Wilde |
From this came the idea for a series of books. The theme being how:
"Conan Doyle quickly discovers that when it comes to the art and craft of amateur sleuthing Oscar Wilde has very little to learn from Sherlock Holmes. Wilde is overweight and apparently indolent, but his mind is amazing; his intellect is as sharp as his wit. Oscar Wilde, in his own way, is as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes - and just as Holmes had his weakness for cocaine, Wilde has his weaknesses, too."
It seems that inspiration for what we want to do or achieve is all around us.
Other Posts featuring books:
Aliens In The Backyard: UFO Encounters, Abductions & Synchronicity
Follow The Self Help Signs Of Synchronicity And Coincidence
They Meet Up Again After 67 Years
Giles Brandreth's latest book:
Oscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol (Oscar Wilde Mysteries 6)
Intriguing story! How did the book end up in the 2nd hand store?! Wilde and Doyle: an odd couple, for sure.
ReplyDeleteNice one. I find the need to solve it; indulge me for a brief moment. Brandreth gives it to his friend, who heads to work the next day, book in hand. Tea time comes and goes, he grabs his umbrella and briefcase, accidentally leaving the book behind. A young college student sees the forgotten book and takes it with him for a "light read" on the plane home. He arrives, showing the book to his Mom, who owns a second hand shop, saying he'll be done reading shortly....
ReplyDeleteWow! Certainly felt inspired myself. Lol.
In 1973, actor Anthony Hopkins agreed to appear in a screen adaptation of George Feifer's novel
ReplyDelete'The Girl from Petrovka'.
Hopkins searched in vain for a copy of the book - but then happened to find one lying on a bench in a railway waiting room. It turned out to be George Feifer's own, annotated copy.