Louis Bayard Ordre des livres (chronologique)

In this powerful novel, bestselling author Louis Bayard brings Oscar Wilde's wife Constance and their two sons into the spotlight, crafting a poignant tale of secrets, loss, and love. In September 1892, the Wilde family retreats to the serene Norfolk countryside. Constance appears content with her two sons, her advocacy for feminist causes, and her charming husband, the celebrated author. However, the arrival of the aristocratic poet Lord Alfred Douglas reveals that Oscar's affections lie elsewhere, threatening the foundation of their lives. The narrative unfolds as Constance flees to Italy after Oscar's imprisonment for homosexuality, and later, the story shifts to World War I and a bar in London's Soho, where their sons, Cyril and Vyvyan, confront their father's legacy. In a brilliant twist, the final act reunites the characters in a surprising and satisfying tableau. With Bayard's trademark sparkling dialogue and deep character insight, the novel offers an entertaining yet profound exploration of the human condition. Critics praise it as "wonderfully researched" and "movingly told," highlighting Bayard's ability to blend tenderness, irony, and heartbreak, solidifying his status as a vital storyteller of the past.

England, 1603: Regelmäßig kommen im Schutz der Nacht die fünf größten Geister ihrer Generation auf einem Anwesen in Dorset zusammen, sprechen über Politik und Astronomie, Gott und Schwarze Magie und ihre verbotenen Studien. Unter ihnen der Mathematiker und Universalgelehrte Thomas Harriot, der in seinem Hausmädchen Margaret eine verwandte Seele und kongeniale Assistentin für seine Versuche findet – bis Margaret beschließt, weiter zu gehen, als Harriot es jemals gewagt hätte … Washington, 2009: Der Historiker Henry Cavendish wird von einem dubiosen Antiquitätenhändler damit beauftragt, einen Brief aus dem frühen 17. Jahrhundert aufzuspüren, der zu einem verschollenen Schatz führen soll. Bei seinen Nachforschungen begegnet Henry der schönen Clarissa Dale. Den Spuren des Briefes folgend, stoßen die beiden auf das Geheimnis eines vergessenen Genies und seiner großen Liebe und geraten dabei in eine todbringende Verschwörung. Ein verschwundener Brief weist über Zeiten und Kontinente hinweg den Weg zu einer geheimen Bruderschaft, einem genialen Wissenschaftler und einer Liebe, die keine Grenzen kennt.

In 1818 Paris, the name Vidocq instills fear in the underworld. As the chief of a new plainclothes police force, he uses his skills in disguise and surveillance to capture notorious criminals. His latest pursuit involves the mystery surrounding Louis-Charles, the young dauphin, son of Marie-Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Hector Carpentier, a medical student living with his widowed mother in a boardinghouse, finds himself entangled in danger when a murdered man is discovered with Hector's name on a scrap of paper. Initially suspicious of Hector, Vidocq gradually involves him in a thrilling investigation to uncover the truth about the royal family's fate. Officially, the Dauphin died in the Temple, a grim prison, but rumors suggest he may have been smuggled out. When they encounter a man with no memory of his identity, they begin to suspect he could be the Dauphin returned from the dead. Their investigation deepens with the discovery of a diary linking Hector to the boy in the tower, igniting his determination for justice. The narrative weaves together political intrigue, treachery, and conspiracies, painting a vivid portrait of Eugène François Vidocq, history's first great detective, and a gripping tale of family redemption.

From the acclaimed author of Mr. Timothy comes an ingenious tale of murder and revenge, featuring a retired New York City detective and a young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe. In 1830, West Point Academy's tranquility is shattered when a young cadet is found hanging from a rope. Initially deemed a suicide, the situation escalates when it’s discovered that someone has removed the cadet's heart. To avoid scandal, the Academy enlists Augustus Landor, a former detective who has retreated to the Hudson Highlands for health reasons. Now a widower, Landor is restless and agrees to investigate. He finds an unexpected ally in the intriguing cadet Poe, who has a penchant for drink and a mysterious past. Impressed by Poe's keen observation skills, Landor hopes the young poet can assist—if he can remain sober. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a hidden world of secret societies and ritual sacrifices, forging a bond that transcends their age difference. However, the unfolding murders and Landor's own secrets threaten to unravel their friendship. With rich prose and intricately detailed characters, this story immerses readers in a labyrinth of the unknown, keeping them guessing until the end.

Welcome to the world of a grown-up Timothy Cratchit, as created by the astonishing imagination of author Louis Bayard. Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets. Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela. Spurred on by the unwavering enthusiasm of a street-smart, fast-talking homeless boy who calls himself Colin the Melodious, Timothy soon finds that he's on the trail of something far worse -- and far more dangerous -- than an ordinary killer. This breathless flight through the teeming markets, shadowy passageways, and rolling brown fog of 1860s London is wrought with remarkable depth and intelligence, complete with surprising twists and extraordinary heart.

"In his witty and beautifully written novels, Louis Bayard is establishing Washington D.C. as the District of Comedy."-Bob Smith, author of Openly Bob , and Way to Go Smith The Broome family is facing an uncertain future; however no one but youngest son Nick seems to notice. Driven by an inexplicable but driving certainty that they are on the brink of extinction, Nick vows to bring a child into the world by whatever means necessary. The problem? Nick is gay. The brave new world of parenting is explored as never before in Louis Bayard's new novel, which is full of the dry wit, snaking plot turns, and vivid, well-rounded characters that earned raves and fans for his first novel, Fool's Errand. Nick's quest for a surrogate mother will draw him to schizophrenics, Hispanic immigrants, body-pierced teenagers, female escorts, a God-fearing phlebotomist, an itinerant matchmaker, and an unbalanced but irrepressible young woman named Nattie, who ultimately may provide what he is seeking in the way he least expected. Alternately moving and very, very funny, Nick Broome's quest to leave a mark on the world drives straight to the heart of the evolving nature of love and family. Louis Bayard is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Nerve.Com, Genre, Lambda Book Report, and the Washington Blade among others. He is the author of Fool's Errand, and lives in Washington, D.C.