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3rd edition ; xiii, 403, [1] pages, [8] leaves of plates ; 8° ; LCCN: 06-35596 ; LC: PR5823; Dewey: 828.209 ; OCLC: 7138261 ; with Appendix (p. 427-448): Oscar Wilde at Chickering Hall; Oscar Wilde's lecture in English provinces on the "House beautiful"; Oscar Wilde's lecture in Dublin on "The value of art in modern life"; Oscar Wilde's lecture in Dublin on "Dress."/ Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-464).; grey cloth and 1/2 vellum-like boards, with gold lettering and art nouveau design on spine ; foredge and bottom textblock untrimmed ; "by Robert Harborough Sherard ; with a full reprint of the famous revolutionary article, "Jacta alea est," which was written by Jane Francesca Elgee, who afterwards became the mother of Oscar Wilde, and an additional chapter contributed by one of the prison-warders, who held this unhappy man in gaol ; illustrated with portraits, facsimile letters, and other documents." ; "It was one of the dead wit's sayings that of all the disciples of a man it is always Judas who writes his biography. In the present instance this paradox has less truth than ever. The writer was in no sense the disciple of Oscar Wilde; he was indeed as strongly antagonistic to most of his principles, ethical, artistic, and philosophical, as he was warmly disposed to him for his many endearing qualities and captivating graces. His qualifications arise from the facts that for the period of sixteen years preceding Oscar Wilde's death he was intimately acquainted with him, that his friendship with him -of which elsewhere a true record exists-was continuous, and uninterrupted save by that act of God which puts a period to all human companionships, that he was with him at times when all others had withdrawn, and that for the very reason that he was not in sympathy with any of the affectations which towards others Oscar Wilde used to assume, the man as he truly was, the man as God and Nature had made him, was perhaps better known to him than to most of his other associates. The method of treatment which was adopted in that earlier record, to which reference has been made above, being no longer imperative here, has been abandoned, with all the more alacrity on the part of the author that he has ever been in complete concordance with the general preference of objective to subjective treatment in the matter of biography. To-day, what three years ago was utterly impossible, he may yield to his own inclinations, because to-day it has become admissible that a biography of Oscar Wilde can be written and made public. The writer has no longer to seek how to arouse interest in his subject through the graduated emotions of curiosity, pity, amazement and sympathy. It is open to him to record facts, without having to palliate the offence of so recording them by an exposition of their incidence upon others. The upward climb, the attainment, the joys of conquest, the catastrophe, the precipitation, and the horrors of the abyss may now be depicted upon his canvas in plain fashion. The reader shall see them as they were; he shall no longer be coaxed by a cunning elicitation of his sympathy for the teller of the story to listen to a tale against which prejudice, the voice of public opinion, and his own conception of what it is seemly and expedient for him to hear are ever prompting him to close his ears."--Robert Sherard ; also included is an important extensive Bibliography, Contents: Works issued in book form -- Authorised editions published in England -- Works published in America only -- Works published in privately printed editions only -- Magazines and periodicals -- Books containing selections -- Spurious works -- Translations -- Franch -- German -- Italian -- Polish -- Russian -- Spanish -- Swedish ; wear, foxing, else VG. Seller Inventory # 007192
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Bibliographic Details
Title: The life of Oscar Wilde : with a full ...
Publisher: London : T.Werner Laurie, Clifford's Inn, London ; [Printed at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Press, Waterloo House, Thornton Street], June 1911
Publication Date: 1911
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
Edition: 3rd Edition.
Book Type: Book
