[4] Two plays produced in London shortly hefore his death have been attributed to Oscar Wilde. One of these, The Tyranny of Tears, does not contain a single line of his. The other is Mr. and Mrs. Daventry, the plot of which was originally Oscar Wilde's, and he sketched out the scenario. The play was then sold to Mr. Frank Harris, who has always acknowledged Wilde's share in it, but the piece was entirely transformed, and except one or two of the situations in it there was very little left of Wilde's idea.
Referring to such works as the translations of Ce Qui ne Meurt pas and the Satyricon which have heen issued under Oscar Wilde's name, Mr. Robert Ross (the editor of De Profundis), writes:—'No one can produce even a scrap of MS. in the author's handwriting of these so-called "last works."'
[5] 'Scandals used to lend charm, or at least interest, to a man—now they crush him.'—An Ideal Husband, Act I.
TO OSCAR WILDE,
Author of 'Ravenna.'
By Augustus M. Moore.
To challenge King Apollo at a Test,
But a love-wearied singer at the best.
The myrtle leaves are all that I can claim,
While on thy brow there burns a crown of flame,
Upon thy shield Italia's eagle crest;
Content am I with Lesbian leaves to rest,
Guard thou thy laurels and thy mother's name.
To deck the fillet of thy Muse's hair;
I take this wild-flower, grown against her feet,
And kissing its half-open lips I swear,
Frail though it be and widowed of its scent,
I plucked it for your sake and find it sweet.
LIST OF PUBLISHED WRITINGS OF OSCAR WILDE.
Αἴλινον, αἴινον εἰπὲ, Τὸ δ᾽ ευ̉ νικάτω. Dublin University Magazine, September, 1876.
Apologia. Poets and Poetry of the Century, Edited by A. H. Miles, Vol. viii, 1891, 1898.
Artist, The. In 'Poems in Prose.'
Artist's Dream, The. Green Room, Routledge's Christmas Annual, 1880.
Ave Imperatrix! A Poem on England. World, August 25, 1880.
Ave! Maria. Kottabos, Michaelmas Term, 1879.
Ballad of Reading Gaol, The. Leonard Smithers, 1898 (February), 7th Edition, 1899.
Birthday of the Infanta, The. (Le Figaro Illustré, Christmas Number?). In 'A House of Pomegranates.'
Canterville Ghost, The. Illustrations by F. H. Townsend. Court and Society Review, February 23, March 2, 1887. In 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories.'
Case of Warder Martin, The. Daily Chronicle, May 28, 1897.
Children in Prison. Murdoch & Co., 1898 (February).
Chinese Sage, A. Speaker, February 8, 1890
Conqueror of Time, The. Time, April, 1879.
Critic as Artist, The. In 'Intentions.'
De Profundis. Methuen & Co., 1905 (February 23), 4th Edition, March, 1905.
Decay of Lying, The. A Dialogue. Nineteenth Century, January, 1889. In 'Intentions.'
Devoted Friend, The. In 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales.'
Δηξίθυμον Ἔρωτος Ἄνθος. Kottabos, Trinity Term, 1876.
Disciple, The. Spirit Lamp, June 6, 1893. In 'Poems in Prose.'
Doer of Good, The. In 'Poems in Prose.'
Dole of the King's Daughter, The. Dublin University Magazine, June, 1876.
Don't Read This if You Want to be Happy To-day. Daily Chronicle, March 24, 1898.
Duchess of Padua, The. Privately printed for the Author; America, 1883[1].
English Poetesses. Queen, December 8, 1888.
English Renaissance, Lecture on the. G. Munro's Seaside library, Vol. 58, No. 1183. New York, January 19, 1882.
Ethics of Journalism, The. Pall Mall Gazette, September 20, 25, 1894.
Fascinating Book, A. Womans World, November, 1888.
Fisherman and his Soul, The. In 'A House of Pomegranates.'
Fragment from the Agamemnon of Æschylos, A. Kottabos, Hilary Term, 1877.
From Spring Days to Winter (for Music). Dublin University Magazine, January, 1876.
Graffiti d'Italia (Arona. Lago Maggiore). Month and Catholic Review, September, 1876.
Graffiti d'Italia (San Miniato). Dublin University Magazine, March, 1876.
Grave of Keats, The. Burlington, January, 1881.
'Green Carnation, The.' Pall Mall Gazette, Oct. 2, 1894.
Grosvenor Gallery, The. Dublin University Magazine, July, 1877.
Guido Ferranti (Selection from 'The Duchess of Padua'). Werner's Readings and Recitations, New York, 1891.
Happy Prince and other Tales, The. David Nutt, 1888 (May), 1889 (January), 1902 (February).
Helas! Poets and Poetry of the Century. Edited by A. H. Miles, Vol. viii, 1891, 1898.
Harlot's House, The. 1885[2]
Heu Miserande Puer! See 'Tomb of Keats, The.'
House of Judgment, The. Spirit Lamp, February 17, 1893. In 'Poems in Prose.'
House of Pomegranates, A. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1891 (November).
House of Pomegranates, A (Reply to Criticism of). Speaker, December 5, 1891.
Ideal Husband, An. Leonard Smithers & Co., 1899 (July)
Importance of being Earnest, The. Leonard Smithers & Co., 1899 (February).
Impression de Matin. World, March 2, 1881[3].
Intentions. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1891 (May). New Edition, 1894[4].
Keats' Love Letters, Sonnet on the Recent Sale by Auction of. Dramatic Review, January 23, 1886.
Keats' Sonnet on Blue. Century Guild Hobby Horse, July, 1886.
La Belle Marguerite. Ballade du Moyen Age. Kottabos, Hilary Term, 1879.
La Fuite de la Lune. Poems and Lyrics of Nature, Edited by E. W. Rinder, Walter Scott, 1894 (May 9).
Edited by Oscar Wilde from November, 1887, to September, 1889.
Reduced facsimile of the Cover (12 by 9¼).]
Lady Alroy. World, May 25, 1887. In 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories.'
Lady Windermere's Fan. Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1893 (November 8).
Le Jardin des Tuileries. In a Good Cause, Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1885 (June).
L'Envoi. Rose Leaf and Apple Leaf, by Rennell Rodd. J. M. Stoddart & Co., Philadelphia, 1882.
Le Reveillon. Poems and Lyrics of Nature. Edited by E. W. Rinder. Walter Scott, 1894 (May 9).
Les Silhouettes. Poems and Lyrics of Nature. Edited by E. W. Rinder. Walter Scott, 1894 (May 9).
Libel Action against Lord Queensberry, The. Evening News, April 5, 1895.
Libertatis Sacra Fames. World, November 10, 1880[5].
Literary and other Notes. Woman's World, November, December, 1887; January to March, 1888.
London Models. Illustrations by Harper Pennington. English Illustrated Magazine, January, 1889.
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime. A story of Cheiromancy. Illustrations by F. H. Townsend. Court and Society Review, May 11, 18, 25, 1887. In 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories.'
Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1891 (July).
Lotus Leaves. Irish Monthly, February, 1877.
Magdalen Walks. Irish Monthly, April, 1878.
Master, The. In 'Poems and Prose.'
Model Millionaire, The. World, June 22, 1887. In 'Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories.'
More Radical Ideas on Dress Reform. Pall Mall Gazette, November 11, 1884.
Mr. Pater's Last Volume. Speaker, March 22, 1890.
Mr. Whistler's Ten O'Clock. Pall Mall Gazette, February 21, 1885.
New Helen, The. Time, July, 1879.
New Remorse, The. Spirit Lamp, December 6, 1892.
Night Vision, A. Kottabos, Hilary Term, 1877.
Nightingale and the Rose, The. La Plume, December 15, 1900. In 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales.'
Note on Some Modern Poets, A. Woman's World, December, 1888.
Oh! Beautiful Star. (Three verses of 'Under the Balcony'). Set to music by Lawrence Kellie. Robert Cocks & Co., 1892.
On Criticism; with some Remarks on the Importance of doing Nothing. Nineteenth Century, July, September, 1890. In 'Intentions.'
Pen, Pencil, and Poison: A Study. Fortnightly Review, January, 1889. In 'Intentions.'
Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young. Chameleon, 1894 (December).
Phêdre. See 'To Sarah Bernhardt.'
Picture of Dorian Gray, The (13 Chapters). Lippincott's Monthly Magazine, July, 1890.
Picture of Dorian Gray, The (20 Chapters). Ward, Lock & Co., 1891 (July 1). New Edition, 1894 (October 1).
Picture of Dorian Gray, The. (Replies to Criticism of). Daily Chronicle, July 2, 1890. Scots Observer, July 12, August 2, 16, 1890.
Poems. David Bogue, 1881 (July). 5th Edition, 1882. Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1892 (May 26).
Poems in Prose. Fortnightly Review, July, 1894.
Πόντος Ἀτρύγετος. Irish Monthly, December, 1877.
Portia. World, January 14, 1880.
Portrait of Mr. W. H., The. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, July, 1889[6].
Preface to 'Dorian Gray,' A. Fortnightly Review, March, 1891.
Puppets and Actors. Daily Telegraph, February?, 1892[7].
Queen Henrietta Maria (Charles I., act iii.). World, July 16, 1879.
Ravenna. T. Shrimpton & Son, Oxford, 1878 (June).
Remarkable Rocket, The. In 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales.'
Requiescat. Dublin Verses, by Members of Trinity College. Elkin Mathews, 1895.
Rise of Historical Criticism, The. Privately printed. America, 1905[8].
Rose of Love and with a Rose's Thorns. See Δηξίθυμον Ἔρωτος Ἄνθος.
Roses and Rue. Midsummer Dreams, Summer Number of Society, July, 1885.
Salomé (French Edition.) Librairie de l'Art Indépendant, Paris, 1893 (February 22).
Salome (English Edition). Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1894 (February 9).
Salve Saturnia Tellus. Irish Monthly, June, 1877.
Selfish Giant, The. In 'The Happy Prince and Other Tales.'
Sen Artysty; or, the Artist's Dream. See 'Artist's Dream, The.'
Shakespeare and Stage Costume. Nineteenth Century, May, 1885. In 'Intentions.'
Some Cruelties of Prison Life. See 'Case of Warder Martin, The,' and 'Children in Prison.'
Some Literary Notes. Woman's World, January to June, 1889.
Relation of Dress to Art, The. Pall Mall Gazette, February 28, 1885.
Soul of Man under Socialism, The. Fortnightly Review, February, 1891[9].
Sphinx, The. Elkin Mathews & John Lane, 1894 (September 29).
Sphinx without a Secret, The. See 'Lady Alroy.'
Star-Child, The. In 'A House of Pomegranates.'
Teacher of Wisdom, The. In 'Poems in Prose.'
Theocritus. Ballades and Rondeaus. Selected by Gleeson White. Walter Scott Publishing Co., 1889 (June 30)[10].
Θρηνῳδία. Kottabos, Michaelmas Term, 1876.
To Milton. Poets and Poetry of the Century, Edited by A. H. Miles, Vol. viii, 1891, 1898.
To My Wife: with a Copy of My Poems. Book-Song, Elliot Stock, 1893.
To Sarah Bernhardt. World, June 11, 1879.
Tomb of Keats, The. Irish Monthly, July, 1877.
True Function and Value of Criticism, The. See 'Critic as Artist, The,' and 'On Criticism.'
True Knowledge, The. Irish Monthly, September, 1876[11].
Truth of Masks, The. See 'Shakespeare and Stage Costume.'
Under the Balcony. Shaksperean Show-Book (May 29, 1884). See 'Oh! Beautiful Star!'
Un Amant de nos Jours. Court and Society Review, December 13, 1887. See 'New Remorse, The.'
Vera, or the Nihilists. Privately printed for the Author; America, 1882.
Vita Nuova. See Πόντος Ἀτρύγετος.
Wasted Days (From a Picture Painted by Miss V. T.). Kottabos, Michaelmas Term, 1877.
Whistler, Correspondence with. World, November 14, 1883; February 25, 1885; November 24, 1886. Truth, January 9, 1890.
Whistler's Lectures Reviewed. See 'Mr. Whistler's Ten O'Clock 'and 'Relation of Dress to Art, The.'
With a Copy of 'A House of Pomegranates.' Book-Song, Elliot Stock, 1893.
Woman of no Importance, A. John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1894 (October 9).
Woman's World, The. Edited by Oscar Wilde, 1887–9. Cassell & Co.
Young King, The. Illustrations by Bernard Partridge. Lady's Pictorial, Christmas Number, 1888. In 'A House of Pomegranates.'
[1] The title-page reads:—The Duchess of Padua A Tragedy of the XVI Century by Oscar Wilde Author of "Vera," etc. Written in Paris in the XIX Century. Privately printed as Manuscript. March 15, 1883 a. d.
The cover is inscribed 'Op. II.' Twenty copies were printed, of which one only is known to exist in England, the property of Mr. Robert Ross. It is in grey paper wrappers, 8vo., pp. 122. The play was acted in America in 1883 by the late Lawrence Barrett, shortly before his death. It is sometimes known as Guido Ferranti.
[2] The original publication of 'The Harlot's House' has not yet been traced. The approximate date is known by a parody on the poem, called 'The Public House, 'which appeared in The Sporting Times of June 13, 1885. In 1904 a privately printed edition, on folio paper, with five illustrations by Althea Gyles, was issued by 'The Mathurin Press,' London. In 1905 another edition was privately printed in London, pp. 8, wrappers.
[3] See Notes and Queries, Series ix., vol. xii., page 85.
[4] Continental Edition issued by Messrs. Heinemann and Balestier in 'The English Library,' No. 54. 1891.
[5] See Sonnets of this Century. Edited by William Sharp. Walter Scott Publishing Co., 1888 (March 22).
[6] Early in 1894, Messrs. Elkin Mathews and John Lane announced as being in preparation, 'The incomparable and ingenious history of Mr. W. H., being the true secret of Shakespear's sonnets, now for the first time here fully set forth. With initial letters and cover design by Charles Ricketts.' On the evening of his arrest, April 5, 1895, the publishers returned the MS. to Mr. Wilde's house, and it is said to have been stolen from there a few hours later.
[7] See Saturday Review, July 2, 1892.
[8] The authenticity of this work is not vouched for.
[9] It was the author's wish that 'The Soul of Man under Socialism' should be known as 'The Soul of Man,' and by this title he himself refers to it in De Profundis. A privately printed edition was published by Mr. Arthur L. Humphreys under this title in 1895, and again in 1904 in 'Sebastian Melmoth.' It appeared also in Wilshire's Magazine, Toronto, Canada, for June, 1902; and, under its original title, in a pirated edition issued in London, 1904; and in a beautiful edition published by Mr. Thos. B. Mosher, of Portland, Maine, U.S.A., April, 1905.
[10] See Literature, December 8, 1900.
[11] Re-printed in Dublin Verses, 1895; and The Tablet, December 8, 1900.
NOTE.
In the foregoing list the following particulars are given:—
- Titles of books with name of publisher and date of publication of each edition.
- Contributions to magazines and periodicals whether re-printed in book-form later or not.
- Poems which have been re-printed in collections of verse of later date than Bogue's edition of the 'Poems,' 1881. These will be found under their respective titles, but when a poem has been included in more than one such collection the reference is given, as a rule, to the book of earliest date.
The publications of Messrs. Elkin Mathews and John Lane, and of Mr. John Lane, were issued simultaneously in America by Messrs. Copeland and Day, of Boston. De Profundis was published in America by Messrs. G. P. Putnam's Sons, of New York. Seven editions have been issued. The Decay of Lying, The Portrait of Mr. W. H., and The Soul of Man under Socialism, appeared in the 'Eclectic Magazine' of New York a few weeks after publication in this country.
No notice is taken in this Bibliography of many unauthorised and pirated reprints, and those works which have been falsely attributed to Mr. Wilde by unscrupulous publishers are all rejected. Of the latter 'The Priest and the Acolyte,' and translations of 'Ce Qui ne Meurt pas' and the 'Satyricon' of Petronius are examples.
Books containing Selections from the Works of Oscar Wilde.
Best of Oscar Wilde, The. (Collection of Poems and Prose Extracts). Collected by C. Herrmann. Brentano, New York, 1905 (March).
Epigrams and Aphorisms. Edited by G. H. Sargent. John W. Luce & Co., Boston, U.S.A., 1905 (July).
Essays, Criticisms and Reviews. Now first collected. (From The Woman's World). Privately printed. London, 1901.
Oscariana. Epigrams. Arthur Humphreys, 1895[1].
Sebastian Melmoth (Selection from Prose Writings; and 'The Soul of Man'). Arthur L. Humphreys, 1904 (September).
[1] Only one copy bore the publisher's name. The rest were issued as 'privately printed.' The edition consisted of 25 copies only, but forged reprints are numerous. The selection of epigrams is said to have been made by Mrs. Wilde.
Bibliographical Notes on the English Editions.
A House of Pomegranates.
The following is the author's own description of 'the decorative designs that make lovely' this book of 'beautiful tales,' and of 'the delicate dreams that separate and herald each story':—
'Mr. Shannon is the drawer of the dreams, and Mr. Ricketts is the subtle and fantastic decorator. Indeed, it is to Mr. Ricketts that the entire decorative design of the book is due, from the selection of the type and the placing of the ornamentation, to the completely beautiful cover that encloses the whole.... The artistic beauty of the cover resides in the delicate tracing, arabesques, and massing of many coral-red lines on a ground of white ivory, the colour effect culminating in certain high gilt notes, and being made still more pleasurable by the overlapping band of moss-green cloth that holds the book together.'
The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
1st edition, 8vo, pp. 31, 800 copies on hand-made paper, and 30 on Japan vellum, February, 1898. Before the 2nd edition was published, in March, the author made several alterations in the text. The 3rd edition was 99 copies only, each signed by the author; bound in purple cloth sides, 4to. Editions 4, 5, and 6 (1898) are similar to the 2nd edition and the number of each edition is printed on the back of title-page. The 7th edition (1899) bears the author's name on the title-page. It is the last of Smithers' editions on hand-made paper. All his subsequent editions are printed in a new type from stereotyped plates, on thick wove paper, and bear no number to distinguish the edition. They are all dated 1899.
De Profundis.
Of the 1st edition 200 copies were printed on hand-made paper at 21/- and 50 on Japan vellum at 42/-. Of the ordinary 5/- edition four impressions were issued within a month of publication.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales.
Of the 1st edition 75 copies (65 for sale) were printed on large paper with the plates in two states. Of the small paper copies the 1st edition was published at 5/-, the 2nd and 3rd at 3/6 each.
An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Each edition consists of 1000 copies, 7/6 net, and 100 on large paper, 21/- net. Twelve copies of each, signed by the author, were issued on Japan vellum. Of this edition No. 4 of each play is in the British Museum.
1st edition, 1891, 7/6; new edition, 1894, 3/6.
Lady Windermere's Fan and A Woman of No Importance.
With a specially designed binding to each volume by Charles Shannon. 500 copies, sm. 4to, 7/6 net, and 50 copies large paper, 15/- net.
The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Of the 1st edition 250 copies on hand-made paper, signed by the author, were issued at 21/-, dated 1891. The small paper editions are not dated. The 2nd (1894) can be distinguished from the 1st (1891) by the publisher's name, Ward, Lock and Bowden, Limited, on the title-page. The published price of each was 6/-.
Poems.
Bogue's 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions are dated 1881, pp. 236. The 4th and 5th editions (1882) have several alterations made by the author in the text, and contain 234 pages only. The edition published by Elkin Mathews and John Lane in 1892 consisted of 220 copies (200 for sale), on hand-made paper, with cover design by Charles Ricketts, price 15/-. The text is a reprint of Bogue's 1882 editions.
Ravenna.
Forged imitations of Messrs. Shrimpton and Son's edition are common. They can be distinguished from the originals by the omission of the Arras of Oxford University on cover and title-page.
Salomé.
The edition in French, limited to 600 copies (500 for sale), printed in Paris, was published by the Librairie de l'Art Indépendant, Paris, and Messrs. Matthews and Lane, London; pp. 84, purple wrappers lettered in silver, 5/- net. The English edition was translated by Lord Alfred Douglas and pictured by Aubrey Beardsley with 10 illustrations, title-page, tail-piece, and cover design. 500 copies, small 4to, 15/- net; 100 copies large paper, 30/- net.
The Sphinx.
Decorated throughout in line and colour and bound in a design by Charles Ricketts. 250 copies at £2/2/- net, and 25 on large paper at £5/5/- net.
Translations of many of Oscar Wilde's works have appeared in French, German, Polish, Hungarian, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and other foreign languages. Full particulars of all editions will be included in 'A Bibliography of Oscar Wilde' by Walter Ledger and Stuart Mason, now in preparation.
IN PREPARATION.
The
Sonnets of Oscar Wilde
Now First Collected.
EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY
STUART MASON.
Views and Reviews
The Uncollected Prose Writings and
Letters of Oscar Wilde.
EDITED BY
STUART MASON.
The
Bibliography of Oscar Wilde
BY
Walter Ledger and Stuart Mason.