Vyvyan Beresford Holland Libri

As public interest in Oscar Wilde grew, so did the lies surrounding him. Vyvyan Holland, Wilde's son, chose to write his own account of the scandal and its aftermath. The 1954 publication of Son of Oscar Wilde was a bold move, given that homosexuality was still a crime in England and his father had been convicted of it. Now with a new Foreword by Merlin Holland, this memoir—described by Vyvyan as "not a very amusing or entertaining story"—depicts Wilde as a beloved yet often absent family member. Through the eyes of a small boy, it powerfully illustrates how the family coped with Oscar's persecution and, after his death, attempted to erase his existence by changing the sons' names from Wilde to Holland. Vyvyan recounts his early happy years, followed by exile in Germany and Monaco, his return to England, and his decision as an adult to confront the painful memories of his youth. This edition also includes 33 of Oscar Wilde's letters, a reminiscence by W.W. Ward, prose poems by Wilde, letters from Lord Alfred Douglas to Vyvyan, and contemporary newspaper reports on the Wilde affair. A tragic tale of prejudice and suffering, this memoir showcases one boy's resilience in the face of extreme cruelty.