Oscar Wilde was the most famous writer of the first half of the 1890s until, at the pinnacle of his success, he was convicted of and imprisoned for ‘gross indecency,’ dying in exile only a few years after his release. At first the stain of scandal severely damaged his reputation. Now, however, he is widely recognized as one of those rare individuals who seem as relevant to our time as their own. Wilde today stands tall as one of the most popular figures in literary history owing to his role as one of the most recognizable representatives of all things Irish and (perhaps even more notably) his celebrity status as a Queer icon.

His current stardom is only buoyed by the great literature he has left us. He was as clever and quotable a conversationalist as ever existed, but you will find his writings to be as intriguing and as irresistible as his personal charms. His range is impressive ⎯ dramatist, essayist, journalist, lecturer, novelist, poet, and short story/fairy tale author. For this course, we will cover nearly all of his canon, especially classics such as The Importance of Being Earnest, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Salome.

The course study trip will make stops in both Oxford and London. First, to the town where he became a name for exclusive access to a substantial archive of items relating to Wilde (including first editions and photographs). Then, to the capital he conquered for a Wilde walking tour, a visit to the Queer Britain museum, and the opportunity to see a show at a West End theatre (where Wilde’s own plays were staged).

Professor: Chris Foss, Professor of English, University of Mary Washington, VA. Email: cfoss@umw.edu