The Trials Of Oscar Wilde

by Merlin Holland, John O'Connor

Thursday 14 February 1895 was the triumphant opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest and the zenith of Wilde's career. Less than 100 days later, he found himself a common prisoner sentenced to two years hard labour. So what happened during the trials and what did Wilde say? Was he persecuted or the author of his own downfall? Using the actual words spoken in court, we can feel what it was like to be in the company of a flawed genius - as this less than ideal husband was suddenly reduced to a man of no importance.

90 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2014

About the author

Christopher Merlin Vyvyan Holland is a British biographer and editor. He is the only grandchild of Oscar Wilde, whose life he has researched and written about extensively.

Reviews

[Mind the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Har läst De Profundis. Har sett The Happy Prince. Har läst olika OW-biografier genom åren. Detta verk är baserat på protokoll från de två rättegångarna. Vi såg pjäsen på Greenwich Theatre (på min födelsedag!). Köpte manuset (och whisky) i pausen och läste på Caffè Nero dagen därpå för fördjupad upplevelse och förståelse.

Här konfronteras Wilde angående en dikt han sänt till Bosie brevledes:

- '.... Ever your own Oscar'.
- Is that an extraordinary letter?
- I think everything I write is extraordinary. Yes, I don't pose as being ordinary - good heavens!