The current issue of Intentions (No. 31, April 2004), published by the Oscar Wilde Society, has notes from an author's lunch with Neil McKenna, author of The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde. When asked "on a lighter note . . . Did he have syphilis?" the answer was: "There is no medical evidence at all of syphilitic symptoms in Oscar. If he had had syphilis then it's probable that his children would not have been so healthy. I have discussed this with Merlin Holand and I agree wholeheartedly with his view that Oscar did not have syphilis." (p. 18) He notes that Dr. Lanphier Vernon Jones, a gonorrhoea specialist, treated him when he came back from Algiers. The unpaid bill is in the PRO. McKenna suggests that Oscar's "fatal and foolhearty decision to sue Queensberry was made under the influences of the opiates he was taking" to deal with "the horrors of treatment for gonorrhoea."
In response: of course, syphilis cannot be dismissed this easily, given the vast amount of circumstantial evidence that points to Wilde's having had it (and knowing he had it and his friends and doctors knowing he had it). Healthy children are not an argument against syphilis, since the disease was only highly contagious for two years (less so for three more) and he married Constance many years after his hypothesized infection and treatment with mercury at Oxford. (Of course a relapse is possible later, and there has been speculation that Constance's spinal paralysis and her comment "You know you made me sick" suggest a possible infection.) Dermatology and syphilology were sister disciplines in Wilde's time. Was there such a thing as a "gonorrhoea specialist"? An interesting lead to track down further.
Meanwhile, here is subscription information for the Oscar Wilde Society. The editor, Don Mead, emailed that there would be further discussion of the syphilis question in the next issue of THE WILDEAN. Subscribe now!
Two Wildeans and six Intentions are a very good value for membership. Both publications are sent to all members by airmail.
Details of membership are given in the Society's leaflet:
About the Oscar Wilde Society:
The Oscar Wilde Society is a literary society devoted to the congenial appreciation of Oscar Wilde. It is a non-profit making organisation which aims to promote knowledge, appreciation and study of Wilde’s life, personality and works. It organises lectures, readings and discussions about Wilde and his works, visits to places associated with Wilde, an annual lunch in Oxford, and an annual Birthday Dinner at the Cadogan Hotel, London.
Intentions is published about six times a year and gives information on forthcoming events, performances and publications as well as accounts of Society events.
The Society’s journal of Oscar Wilde studies — The Wildean — is published twice a year and contains features on a variety of subjects relating to Wilde, including articles, reviews, and reports of lectures. It is a publication of permanent interest and copies of most back issues are available.
New members are very welcome. Annual individual subscription rates are: UK 20 GBP; European postal area 23 GBP; Rest of the World 28 GBP
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vanessaharris@members.v21.co.uk
Dear Vanessa,
We are hoping to film at an auction house in Reading, BERKS, but want to give the programme a sense of place and history. So, I thought it would be interesting to try and find a contributor who might be selling something connected to Oscar Wilde, who spent a while in Reading prison. Would you know of someone who might be willing to be filmed selling an item, possibly a first edition of "Ballad of Reading gaol" and talk to us about it, or possibly even show us, their collection?
The auction we're filming in Reading, Berks takes place on MONDAY 18 OCT. We would also need to film an interview with the person at the auction rooms on one of the days leading up to it - Fri - Sun 15-17Oct. But once we have people interested & know their availability we can discuss firm days and times.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Stephen Mizelas
Assistant Producer
Name Your Price
Lion Television
Lion House
26 Paddenswick Road
London
W6 OUB
Tel: 07949019375
Posted by: stephen mizelas | October 07, 2004 at 04:45 AM