Summary
In 1895, John Douglas, Marquess of Queensbury and father of Alfred Douglas--Oscar Wilde's intimate friend and lover--left a note at the Albemarle Club for the playwright addressing him as a "sodomite." Unable to let the slight pass, and egged on by Alfred, Wilde sued the marquess for libel, thus initiating a sensational trial that would result in the sentencing of the former to two years of hard labor. This fascinating chronicle of the trial gathers heretofore inaccessible transcripts and portrays Wilde with all of his eloquence, wit, and theatricality, qualities that were nonetheless unable to prevent--and, indeed, may have contributed to--his conviction. This riveting account will appeal to Wilde enthusiasts, fans of literature, and legal scholars. En 1895, John Douglas, el marques de Queensbury y padre de Alfred Douglas--el enamorado de Oscar Wilde--envio al club Albermarle una nota dirigida al dramaturgo en el cual se refirio a el como un "sodomita." Indispuesto a ignorar la ofensa, y con el aliento de su joven galan, Wilde demando por calumnia al marques e inicio un escandaloso juicio que acabaria sentenciando al primero a dos anos de trabajos forzados. Esta cronica fascinante del juicio reune hasta ahora inaccesibles autos del pleito y presenta a Wilde con toda su elocuencia, su ingenio y su teatralidad, cualidades que no obstante fueron incapaces de prevenir--y aun pueden haber contribuido a--su condena. Este relato apasionante atraera a fanaticos de Wilde y de la literatura, asi como estudiantes del derecho.
Author Biography
Merlin Holland is a biographer and editor, and the only grandchild of Oscar Wilde. He is the author of The Wilde Album: Public and Private Images of Oscar Wilde.