Tag Archives: The Marquess of Queensberry

Oscar Wilde (Volume 5, Episode 8) Part One

In March of 1895, Oscar Wilde enjoyed fame and fortune as one of Britain’s foremost literary figures.  Only four months later he was inprisoned for the crime of “gross indecency,” convicted of violating Britain’s laws against same sex relationships.  Upon his release, he exiled himself to France, his career in ruins and never saw his family again.

Oscar Wilde, college years

At Oxford, Wilde continued his immersion in the classics.  The school was definitely a step up in class, his fellow students having matriculated at Eton, Harrow or similarly upper class English preparatory environments.  Many were also comparatively much wealthier than the modestly affluent Irish native. A later journalistic account described him as initially, naïve, embarrassed, with a convulsive laugh, a lisp and Irish accent.

Wilde, in a typical outfit during his American tour.

Wilde sailed for America, arriving in New York on January 2, 1882.  Oscar, who received a great deal of attention in London’s society columns, and whose tour was widely publicized in both Britain and the US, was swamped by journalists, even before he was able to clear customs and disembark, the press actually hiring boats to interview Wilde offshore.

            Wishing to represent himself as an aesthete in appearance as well as philosophical perspective, Wilde greeted the press in a full length green topcoat, trimmed with fur on the cuffs and collars, a similarly colored and trimmed rounded green hat on his head, hair much longer then was typical.  A large collared shirt with light blue tie was visible underneath this outer layer.  He also wore a large seal ring with a classical Greek profile.

Constance Wilde and son Cyril

Oscar Wilde also remained focused on Constance Lloyd.  In Dublin, for a series of lectures, he was invited to the home of relative’s of Constance’s mother, Adelaide Atkinson Lloyd.  There, Oscar and Constance spent time together and socialized for the next few days, Constance attending both of Wilde’s Dublin lectures.  On November 25, the couple were left alone in the drawing room of the Atkinson home, the same room where Constance’s father proposed to her mother.  Here, also Oscar Wilde proposed to Constance Lloyd.  She accepted immediately and was described as, “insanely happy.”

Wilde and Douglas in 1893

But just as Wilde reached the heights of public popularity, his private life resulted in his complete personal ruin and professional destruction.  Although his vow of celibacy applied to his relationship with his wife, it did not preclude Wilde from consorting sexually with men, on a frequent basis that included what were termed, “rent boys,” young, working class males typically in their late teens.  Wilde was also emotionally involved with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed Bosie, a student at Oxford when Wilde was introduced to him.  The two began a tempestuous lengthy relationship that was also quite indiscrete.

Calling card left at the Albemarle Club by the Marquess of Queensberry

On February 28, 1895, Wilde entered a private club of which he was a member, the Albemarle Club.  He was hailed by the doorman, who handed him an envelope, stating that the enclosed card was dropped off ten days earlier.  Inside was a card embossed with the Marquess of Queensbury’s name and written in script, “For Oscar Wilde- posing Somdomite,” the last word misspelled but written with clear intent.  Only the card was delivered, it was judiciously placed in an envelope by the doorman and could have easily been seen by staff, as well as members, which included women.

Oscar Wilde (Volume 5, Episode 8) Part Two

In March of 1895, Oscar Wilde enjoyed fame and fortune as one of Britain’s foremost literary figures.  Only four months later he was inprisoned for the crime of “gross indecency,” convicted of violating Britain’s laws against same sex relationships.  Upon his release, he exiled himself to France, his career in ruins and never saw his family again.

Wilde and Douglas in Naples, 1897

Unfortunately, their reunion was so successful that both men began contemplating running off to Naples, the consequences be damned.  Robert Ross and various other associates and friends of Wilde soon heard about this development and were all uniformly dismayed.  Wilde was literally living off his wife’s allowance, funds that would be jeopardized if the news of his rekindled relationship with Bosie became known to her and especially her attorneys.  Even so, he needed to borrow money just to get to Naples by train, leaving this important fact out of any discussions he had about his reasons for heading to Italy.

Robert Ross

Robert Ross’ belief that Wilde’s literary reputation would eventually be reconstituted occurred faster than even he anticipated.  By the beginning of the 20th century, various critical analyses and biographies and accounts of Wilde’s life appeared to great interest.  His plays never really disappeared for any length of time, their popularity in British regional theater continued and all of Wilde’s theatrical works returned to popularity internationally as the century progressed.  By 1908, Ross had successfully repurchased all of Wilde’s copyrights that were sold off during Oscar’s bankruptcy proceedings.  These rights were then returned to Wilde’s sons.

The Ninth Marquess of Queensbery, John Sholto Douglas

John Sholto Douglas, the ninth Marquess of Queensberry.  Aggressively masculine and a sportsman, as opposed to his sons, the elder Douglas, is credited with creating what are known as boxing’s “Queensberry Rules,” the ten basic rules that govern boxing even today.  Despite great wealth, Douglas was extremely hostile, and possibly mentally ill.

Constance Wilde Holland’s grave. The Wilde connection was added much later by her relatives

Although his wife also restored a modest allowance of ten pounds a month upon hearing of his break with Douglas, Wilde received the news that she died on April 7, 1898 after a botched operation to relieve her paralysis.  She was buried in Genoa, her gravestone using her newly assumed name of Holland with no mention of Oscar Wilde.

Wilde deathbed photo. Note wallpaper.

Finding Wilde borderline delirious and hearing that he had no more than days to live, Ross then went to the nearest Catholic church and brought back an Irish priest who quickly went through the official ceremony of converting Wilde to Catholicism.  Ross also sent cables to Frank Harris and Alfred Douglas, warning them of Wilde’s current state.  By the morning of November of November 30, Wilde had lost consciousness and was completely unresponsive.  He died that afternoon.

Wilde’s tomb, Pere Lachaise

Ross also transferred Wilde’s remains from Bagneaux to the more prestigious Parisian cemetery at Pere Lachaise, already the resting place of Chopin, Balzac, Moliere and eventually Sarah Bernhardt, Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison. Ross also collected funds for a magnificent sculpted abstract sphinxlike creature, requesting that the artist Jacob Epstein include a compartment for the internment of Ross’ own ashes, a request that was not fulfilled until 1950, 32 years after Ross’ death at age 49 of a heart attack.  Epstein’s monument is perhaps too magnificent, it was repeatedly vandalized by lipstick kisses until cemetery authorities cleaned it and installed plexiglass to prevent such future vandalism.

Oscar Wilde (Volume 5, Episode 8) Book and Music Information

The books used to compose this podcast included:

“Oscar Wilde,” by Richard Ellman.

“Oscar Wilde, A Life,” by Matthew Sturgis

“Oscar Wilde: The Unrepentant Years,” by Nicholas Frankel

The intro for Part One and outro for Part Two was, “Floating Home,” by Brian Bolger

The outro for Part One was “French Fuse,” by Somewhere Fuse.

The intro for Part Two was, “Hopeless,” by Jimena Contreras