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.
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."
In fact eight years after he wrote these letters Wilde began his famous two years in HMP Reading for "gross indecency" with the son of a lord.
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 letters are expected to fetch more than £10,000 at auction.
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....
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
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."
In fact eight years after he wrote these letters Wilde began his famous two years in HMP Reading for "gross indecency" with the son of a lord.
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 letters are expected to fetch more than £10,000 at auction.
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....