Oscar Wilde hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison, he wrote "De Profundis" (published posthumously in 1905), a long letter which discusses his spiritual journey through his trials, forming a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On his release, he left immediately for France, never to return to Ireland or Britain. There he wrote his last work, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life. He died destitute in Paris at the age of 46. Oscar Wilde was born at 21
Oscar Wilde Bookshop Oscar Wilde Bookshop The Oscar Wilde Bookshop was the first bookstore devoted to gay and lesbian authors. It was founded by Craig Rodwell on November 24, 1967 as the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop. Initially located at 291 Mercer Street, moved in 1973 to Christopher Street and Gay Street in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. It is named after author Oscar Wilde. The bookstore closed on March 29, 2009 citing the Great Recession and challenges from online bookstores. As a member and vice president of the Mattachine Society, Rodwell sought to make Mattachine more visible to gays and society at