"I was a problem for which there was no solution."—Oscar Wilde, 1897. Oscar Wilde was celebrated as a brilliant playwright and novelist, yet stigmatized as a dangerous seducer of youth. His trial in 1895 for homosexual offenses remains a significant moment of bravery. In this psychoanalytic biography, Melissa Knox delves into the connections between Wilde's childhood experiences and his psychological development, shedding light on his creativity and self-destructive tendencies. Knox draws on new information and recent studies to portray key figures in Wilde's life: his adoring yet demanding mother, a father whose scandalous actions tarnished the family name, and a beloved sister who died when he was eleven. She details Wilde's early challenges to British norms, his lifelong fears of syphilis, his marriage and children, and his passionate affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, which led to his public downfall. The biography covers Wilde's libel suit against Douglas's father, his trial, and his two years of imprisonment, followed by years of exile and ill health. By uncovering the unconscious motivations behind Wilde's bravado, Knox provides insights into his often perplexing behavior and offers new interpretations of his works, including Salome, The Importance of Being Earnest, and De Profundis, highlighting his struggles as both a man and an artist.
Melissa Knox Bücher
