The Dead Writers Club was born out of the fact that there are very few living writers out there that are worth reading. (Naturally, this is because we all yearn to live in the past)

Do you consistently feel as though you are living in the wrong time period? We do too.

This blog is a celebration of literature and the greats who wrote before us.
~ Wednesday, November 30 ~
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Happy Deathday, Mr. Wilde!

“This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One of us has to go”

This is supposedly the last witticism ever spoken by Oscar Wilde, before he died on November 30th in 1900. Wilde suffered from an ear infection, as well as several other health issues stemming from the two years of hard labor he served. Cause of death has been put down to cerebral meningitis, although many scholars disagree on the initial cause of the meningitis.
He died, on the brink of poverty, at the age of 46. He is buried at  Cimetière du Père Lachaise, in Paris, France.
             
It is no secret that we, here at the DWC, are tremendous fans of the late playwright. We ask you this… what’s not to like about Oscar Wilde?!
If you are unfamiliar with this Irish giant of literature, we suggest you visit your local library or check out the official site for information on his life, death and works. As many of you already know, Wilde was sent to prison for two years for “committing indecent acts”… namely homosexuality… which was never definitively proven and was backed by what nowadays would barely be considered even circumstantial evidence. The judge was recorded as saying that Wilde’s trial was “the worst case I have ever tried”.
What do we believe, if anything, Oscar Wilde was guilty of?
BEING HIMSELF.
Throughout his trial, Wilde remained in good spirits, often joking cleverly in the courtroom. In fact, a book released a few years ago, entitled “The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde”, contains a transcript of the entire trial, which reads almost like one of Oscar’s plays! It is a must have for any Wildechild, as we like to call Mr. Wilde’s fans. (FYI, the book was compiled and published by Oscar’s own grandson, Merlin Holland. )
While no fan of Mr. Wilde can deny the historical significance of his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, or his extremely popular plays Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) , A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895) and finally, The Importance of Being Earnest (also 1895), we would be remiss if we did not mention our favorite writings by Wilde, albeit, the less popular works. Some of our personal picks include his 1888 collection of children’s stories “The Happy Prince and Other Tales”, The House of Pomegranates (1892), De Profundis (written in 1897 but published posthumously) and a political essay he wrote in 1891, entitled “The Soul of Man Under Socialism”.
We have nothing to declare… except HIS genius. (for those of you that got that joke… YOU.ARE.AWESOME.)
Today… go out into the world with some of that trademark Wilde confidence. Live with gusto. Love as you wish. Resist everything but temptation. Write Wildely.
Write on in peace, Mr. Wilde!
Tags: oscar wilde november 30th 1900 ear infection deathday dead writers club playwright witticism witty dorian gray trial homosexuality ireland irish happy prince de profundis bosie douglas paris france
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~ Tuesday, November 30 ~
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Happy Deathday Mr. Wilde!

Notorious playwright and wit Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde died of “infection” on this day in 1900 at the age of 46.

                                   

Let’s face it, anybody who is anybody knows who good ole Oscar Wilde is! We’ll not list here his accomplishments or the impact his work has had on popular culture, theatre and aspiring “fame whores” everywhere… it would simply take up too much bandwidth! Oscar Wilde was, without a doubt, a truly gifted writer- but it was his personality that propelled him ever forward into the spotlight during his life. He lived large.

Unfortunately, this lavish lifestyle and flamboyant conduct led to rumors and then scandal. For those of you who do not know it, Mr. Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor, which broke not only his spirit but his body as well. He died only a few years after being released from prison. And what did he go to prison for? For being himself. Mr. Wilde was officially sentenced for what was referred to as “gross indecency”. To put it plainly, he was a homosexual. Wilde lost everything; his money, his children…his wife and most of his friends, who upon Wilde’s release, avoided him like the plague.

Since his death, he has been immortalized in Great Britain with sculptures and various monuments. His face can be found on tshirts, bookstore walls and even action figures!

If you are new to Wilde and his writings, first let us say we are so sorry to hear you have been so unjustly deprived. Secondly, let us direct you to a wonderful little website for all things Oscar : http://www.oscarwildecollection.com/. We cannot choose his best works, for they are all superb but we will point out a few of our favorites; The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Happy Prince, and The Importance of Being Earnest!

Today, we ask that you hold your head high today and proclaim “I am Me”! Be proud of who you are and never make any apologies for it! Live large today, dear readers, and do try to be as witty as possible in all that you do!

Wit on on peace, Mr. Wilde.

Tags: oscar wilde happy deathday november 30 1900 Irish playwright poet dorian gray the importance of being earnest wilde homosexuality infection wit witty
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