09-15-2010, 12:33 PM
WHOA! Oscar Wilde's letters to be released~~what a brilliant wit, imprisoned and hounded out of England for being a queer.
Oscar Wilde love letters discovered
A collection of affectionate letters written by Oscar Wilde to a young male magazine editor have been revealed for the first time.
15 Sep 2010
Penned in his own hand, the revealing letters appear to show the poet struggling with his homosexuality at a time when it was punishable by prison.
In one he muses: "This is all wrong isn't it."
The intriguing collection is now expected to fetch £10,000 or more when it goes to auction later this month.
During his time writing and editing for Society Magazines in London Wilde wrote a series of letters in 1887 to fellow editor Alsager Vian inviting him for 'cigars and Italian wine'
The main content relates to the business that would take place between an editor and his writers.
However, after the first letter Wilde continually invites Vian to visit him: "Will be at home tomorrow afternoon, so glad if you come down for tea.
"We must have an Evening together soon over our journalism article."
In the final letter Wilde goes to great lengths to encourage a meeting.
"Come and dine at Pagani's in Portland Street on Friday 7.30pm. No dress, just ourselves and a flask of Italian wine.
"Afterwards we will smoke cigarettes and Talk over the Journalistic article, could we go to your rooms, I am so far off, and clubs are difficult to Talk in."
"Till Thursday night. This is all wrong, isn't it. Truly yours, Oscar Wilde"
The small but revealing group of letters sent are to be sold by Fine Art Auctioneers Bamfords of Derby on the September 24.
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in 1854 and after leaving Oxford Magdalene College seemed to lack direction in his career.
From 1886-89 he wrote for and edited Society Magazines.
In 1895 he was accused by the Marquess of Queensbury of corrupting his son, Lord Alfred Douglas.
Wilde sued and lost, the court declared that Queensbury's accusation was justified, 'true in substance and in fact'.
On May 25, 1895 Wilde and Alfred Taylor were convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labour.
Wilde was released on the 19 May 1897 and left England the next day for the continent never to return and to spend his last three years under the name Sebastian Melmoth.
His final address was the Hôtel d'Alsace in Paris and he died there of cerebral meningitis on 30 November 1900 aged 46.
Today fans from across the world come to visit his grave and statue in the Père Lachaise cemetery, in Paris.
Oscar Wilde love letters discovered
A collection of affectionate letters written by Oscar Wilde to a young male magazine editor have been revealed for the first time.
15 Sep 2010
Penned in his own hand, the revealing letters appear to show the poet struggling with his homosexuality at a time when it was punishable by prison.
In one he muses: "This is all wrong isn't it."
The intriguing collection is now expected to fetch £10,000 or more when it goes to auction later this month.
During his time writing and editing for Society Magazines in London Wilde wrote a series of letters in 1887 to fellow editor Alsager Vian inviting him for 'cigars and Italian wine'
The main content relates to the business that would take place between an editor and his writers.
However, after the first letter Wilde continually invites Vian to visit him: "Will be at home tomorrow afternoon, so glad if you come down for tea.
"We must have an Evening together soon over our journalism article."
In the final letter Wilde goes to great lengths to encourage a meeting.
"Come and dine at Pagani's in Portland Street on Friday 7.30pm. No dress, just ourselves and a flask of Italian wine.
"Afterwards we will smoke cigarettes and Talk over the Journalistic article, could we go to your rooms, I am so far off, and clubs are difficult to Talk in."
"Till Thursday night. This is all wrong, isn't it. Truly yours, Oscar Wilde"
The small but revealing group of letters sent are to be sold by Fine Art Auctioneers Bamfords of Derby on the September 24.
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was born in 1854 and after leaving Oxford Magdalene College seemed to lack direction in his career.
From 1886-89 he wrote for and edited Society Magazines.
In 1895 he was accused by the Marquess of Queensbury of corrupting his son, Lord Alfred Douglas.
Wilde sued and lost, the court declared that Queensbury's accusation was justified, 'true in substance and in fact'.
On May 25, 1895 Wilde and Alfred Taylor were convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years' hard labour.
Wilde was released on the 19 May 1897 and left England the next day for the continent never to return and to spend his last three years under the name Sebastian Melmoth.
His final address was the Hôtel d'Alsace in Paris and he died there of cerebral meningitis on 30 November 1900 aged 46.
Today fans from across the world come to visit his grave and statue in the Père Lachaise cemetery, in Paris.