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Oscar Wilde, a Critical Study By: Arthur Ransome (1884-1967) |
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A CRITICAL STUDY BY ARTHUR RANSOME
LONDON MARTIN SECKER NUMBER FIVE JOHN STREET ADELPHI MCMXII
[Illustration: Oscar Wilde. from the Painting by Harper Pennington now
in the possession of Robert Ross. Esq.]
BY THE SAME AUTHOR BOHEMIA IN LONDON (Sketches and Essays), 1907
A HISTORY OF STORY TELLING, 1909
EDGAR ALLAN POE, 1910
THE HOOFMARKS OF THE FAUN, 1911
ETC.
Copyright reserved in all countries signatory to the
Berne Convention. The copyright of this book in
Russia is the property of the Scorpion Press, Moscow
TO ROBERT ROSS
NOTE
I wish to thank Mr. Robert Ross, Wilde's literary executor, who has
helped me in every possible way, allowed me to read many of the letters
that Wilde addressed to him, and given much time out of a very busy life
to the verification, from documents in his possession, of the
biographical facts included in my book. I wish to thank Mr. Walter
Ledger for much interesting information, and for the sight of many rare
editions of Wilde's books that made possible the correction of several
bibliographical errors into which I had fallen. I wish to thank Mr.
Martin Secker for putting at my disposal his collection of late
nineteenth century literature. I wish to thank an anonymous author for
lending me the proof sheets of a forthcoming book, which will contain a
full and accurate account of the legal proceedings for and against
Wilde. Many of those who knew Wilde have helped me, by letter or in
conversation, with valuable reminiscence. I would thank, particularly,
M. Paul Fort, M. Remy de Gourmont, M. Stuart Merrill, and Mr. Reginald
Turner. The texts of Wilde's books that I have used throughout are these:
Messrs. Methuen's limited edition of the works, and the five shilling
edition issued by the same firm; Mr. Charles Carrington's edition of
The Picture of Dorian Gray ; Mr. A. L. Humphreys' edition of The Soul
of Man under Socialism ; Mr. David Nutt's edition of The Happy Prince
and other Tales . To these, as to the best, and in some cases the only,
editions easily accessible, I must refer my readers. Much accurate
observation is to be found in M. André Gide's "Oscar Wilde," published
by the Mercure de France, and the result of much laborious and useful
research is embodied in Mr. Stuart Mason's "Bibliography of the Poems of
Oscar Wilde," published by Mr. Grant Richards. Permission to include
many quotations has been granted by Messrs. Methuen and Co., and Mr.
Robert Ross.
CONTENTS PAGE
INTRODUCTORY 13 BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY 27 POEMS 36 ÆSTHETICISM 59 MISCELLANEOUS PROSE 80 INTENTIONS 104 THE THEATRE 130 DISASTER 153 DE PROFUNDIS 157 1897 1900 178 AFTERTHOUGHT 201
I INTRODUCTORY
Gilbert, in 'The Critic as Artist,' complains that "we are overrun by a
set of people who, when poet or painter passes away, arrive at the house
along with the undertaker, and forget that their one duty is to behave
as mutes. But we won't talk about them," he continues. "They are the
mere body snatchers of literature. The dust is given to one and the
ashes to another, but the soul is out of their reach." That is not a
warning lightly to be disregarded. No stirring up of dust and ashes is
excusable, and none but brutish minds delight in mud pies mixed with
blood. I had no body snatching ambition. Impatient of such criticism of
Wilde as saw a law court in The House of Pomegranates , and heard the
clink of handcuffs in the flowing music of Intentions , I wished, at
first, to write a book on Wilde's work in which no mention of the man or
his tragedy should have a place. I remembered that he thought
Wainewright, the poisoner and essayist, too lately dead[1] to be
treated in "that fine spirit of disinterested curiosity to which we owe
so many charming studies of the great criminals of the Italian
Renaissance... Continue reading book >>
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