Merlin Holland, the only grandson of Oscar Wilde, both delves into the past and explores the posthumous life of his infamous Irish forebear in After Oscar: The Legacy Of A Scandal. A more than comprehensive account, running to a hefty 800 pages, Holland sets out on a path of discovery, attempting to separate the facts from the myths and gossip that became prevalent after Wilde’s death in 1900.
Today, Wilde is celebrated for his work but following a scandal that sent him to prison and his subsequent exile after his release, the aftermath was still being experienced decades later. After Oscar charts the different elements of his story – the personal estrangement from his sons Cyril and Vyvyan, who were compelled to conceal their identity, to Wilde’s friend Robbie Ross and his crusade to ensure the great writer’s works lived on. There is also the selling of the family stories by Vyvyan, and a case of forgeries, leading the author to unpick the fact from fiction in the course of creating a vivid, engaging timeline.
Considering so many family and friends tried to conceal information about past events, this is a candid and engaging account which features extraordinary insight. It’s clear that Oscar Wilde’s posthumous legacy is very much alive today, and this captivating record – charting the rise, fall and rise again of a literary legend – will play its part in ensuring the continued celebration of a great writer.