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
The Manuscripts of Oscar Wilde other stories — e.g., several lines from "Dorian Gray" appear again in L.W.F. Modifications to the work through stage rehearsal are sometimes incorporated on scraps of paper. The secrecy surrounding the plots of "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" is clearly shown in the strict instructions to the typist, being forbidden to show or excerpt lines. Typescripts were delivered by hand under plain cover to 'Oscar Wilde 10/11 St. James's Place'. They were never posted. The Manuscripts of Oscar Wilde The original manuscripts of Oscar Wilde today reside in many collections, including the British Library. The largest