The Man Who Destroyed Oscar Wilde

Merlin Holland, grandson of Oscar Wilde, tells the epic story of the famous playwright’s downfall at the hands of the man who he once called an “Old friend”. In 1895 #OscarWilde fought a spectacular duel in court with his fellow Irishman Edward Carson, an up-and-coming lawyer and politician. It was one of the most scandalous trials of the Victorian era. Wilde, the prosecutor of the case, was quickly turned into the defendant by Carson’s relentless and crushing cross examination. It led to Wilde’s ruin and imprisonment for homosexuality. From a uniquely personal perspective, presenter Merlin Holland evocatively recounts the tale of his grandfather’s demise and asks the question – does Edward Carson deserve his reputation as the man who destroyed #OscarWilde?

[claudettedelphis]

Oscar Wilde, the genius writer, acclaimed by all until a most prejudiced man decided to destroy him.
His life became an inferno in England so he decided to accept the invitation from the French to come and live in Paris. I visited his tombstone.
Vive la France 🇫🇷

[HughReid-mk]

Not really, wilde got it correct in his last comment only you can destroy your self. The facts were, the Marquess of Queensbury, Bosies father left his calling card at Wilde's club. On it he stated. To Wilde posing as a solomite. What possessed Oscar to take a civil action against the Marquess, who knows. Lord Alfred? Anyhow against legal advice he did. Evidence provided by the defence proved to be criminal. Even now some of it still would be. Wilde was urged to flee. He was arrested days later at the Codduggan hotel . Resulting in a successful prosecution. And gaol at Reading . How Wilde was transfer there was disgusting he was chained to one of several uniformed police on the open platform to the ridicule of the public. Spent two years hard labour in gaol. His family used their mother's maiden name of Holland. I note they still do. Why did he? He had several plays running on the west end. All shut within days of the trials commencing. Not all past acquaintance ignored him, though he was in exile. Being famous did not protect you from the law or public opinion even then.