Oscar Wilde Home - London

Oscar Wilde's home is on Tite Street in London.  It was here the famed author lived from 1884 to 1895 and knew his greatest successes.  Shortly after marrying Constance Lloyd on May 29, 1884, the couple moved into their new home at what was originally number 16.  He had just made a name for himself with a successful lecture tour of America, and she had an annual allowance from her father, which gave the couple some smalls means with which to redecorate their new home in the manner expected of those with luxurous tatses.  They had two children while living here, Cyril and Vyvyan.  Wilde's literary career hit his high point during this time.  He wrote The Happy Prince and Other Tales (1888), The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890), and the plays Lady Windermere's Fan (1892), A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) while residing on Tite Street.  In 1891 Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, the son of the Marquess of Queensbury, who is best known today for his rules of boxing.  Douglas introduced Wilde to the world of male brothels and gay prostitution.  Thereafter he began indulging in his new secret world with Douglas, who turned out to be less than discreet about his behavior.  In 1894 Queensbury, having been priviledged to more rumours than he cared to, confronted Wilde and forbade him to ever see his son again.  When Wilde wouldn't back off Queensbury sent him a calling card insinuating he was practicing sodomy.  Wilde sued him for libel.  The tables were turned during the trial after witnesses came forward to verify Wilde's innapropriate sexual conduct.  Queensbury was aquitted and a warrant was immediately issued for Wilde's arrest.  In May 1895 Wilde was found guilty of gross indecency and sentenced to two years hard labor.  The cost of the trial forced him to sell the home on Tite Street, along with all of his possessions.  It also estranged him from his family.  After serving his time he spent his self imposed exile in Paris, where he died in 1900.  The public outcry towards Wilde's behavior lasted for some time.  The blue plaque which was placed on his home in the 1950's met with some opposition, over fifty years after the fact.

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