Literary papers and related material of Oscar Wilde. This section has been divided into bound and unbound material. The sections are arranged chronologically, in the order: stage works; poems; epigrams; lectures; essays and articles; transcriptions.
Eccles Bequest. Vols. XXVII-XXIX. Papers relating to 'De Profundis'; 1895-1913, n.d. Fifty thousand word letter / essay written by Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas from Reading Gaol. On release, Wilde gave the manuscript to Robert Baldwin Ross, who published a suppressed copy (about two thirds of the original) in 1905. This was expanded slightly for the Collected Works (1908). A limited edition was later published in New York that included certain portions of the suppressed sections. Ross ...
Eccles Bequest. Vols. I, II. 'The Duchess of Padua'; 1882-1883. Autograph. Five act play originally titled 'The Duchess of Florence'. Wilde began writing the play in 1882 and completed it in Paris in 1883. It was written with the intention that it would be produced by and star Mary Anderson. Wilde entered into an agreement with Anderson's manager, Hamilton Griffin, to complete the play by 1 March 1883, and in fact completed it on 15 March. In the end Anderson rejected the play stating that ...
Eccles Bequest. Vol. VI-VIII. 'The Importance of Being Earnest'; 1894. Four act comedy of manners. Wilde gave it the working title of 'Lady Lancing' to deflect press interest. For an early draft of Acts III and IV under this title, see Add. 37948. It was produced by Sir George Alexander and first performed at St James's Theatre, London, on 14 February 1895. A three act version was performed at Alexander's request with Wilde's agreement. In April 1895 the play was closed in response to Wilde'...
Literary papers and related material of Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas. Arranged in the order: stage works; poems; autobiographical writings and material relating to Oscar Wilde; other writings. This section has been divided into bound and unbound material.
Eccles Bequest. Vol. X. Miscellaneous verse fragments; 1875-1894. Partly autograph, partly printed. 1. 'San Miniato'; 15 June 1875. Two twelve-line stanzas. Wilde was on a trip to Italy with Rev. Dr John Pentland Mahaffy, a tutor from Trinity College and William Goulding. Written after a visit ...
Eccles Bequest. Vol. XXII. 'Plays of Sophocles'; [1864-1878]. Autograph schoolboy notes for essay with sketches. Acquired from John Fleming. Red quarter morocco flapcase. Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde, author: Schoolboy notes and sketches rel. to 'Plays of Sophocles': [1864-1878].