![]() Wilde wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol in exile in Berneval-le-Grand in northern France, shortly after his release from prison. The revelations about his personal life that would come from this trial led instead to Wilde’s own imprisonment for ‘gross indecency’, under the 1885 Criminal Law Amendment Act, which made homosexual acts illegal. Unhappy with this description of himself, Wilde took Queensbury to court for libel. Queensbury was the father of Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’, with whom Wilde was in a romantic relationship. The change in his fortunes began when he received a calling card from the 9 th Marquess of Queensbury, calling him a ‘posing somdomite ’. James’ Theatre just a few months earlier. The Importance of Being Earnest had opened to critical acclaim at London’s St. The publication of this beautiful and poignant poem, following the author’s imprisonment for homosexuality, is a significant moment in LGBTQ+ history.īy the time of his infamous trial in 1895, Wilde was a considerable literary success, with many publications to his name, and a reputation for wit and exuberance. ![]() To mark the occasion, our Book of the Month is Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol. ![]() ![]() ![]() On Saturday, Exeter Pride takes to the streets to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning communities, in this 50 th anniversary year of the UK’s first Pride march. ![]()
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