Oscar Wilde, the Story of an Unhappy Friendship: With Portraits and Facsimile Letters

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This historic book may contain numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can often download a free scanned copy of the original book from the publisher. Not indexed or illustrated, this 1902 edition includes an excerpt about Oscar Wilde during his time at Oxford in 1878. The narrative describes an evening at Hotel Voltaire, where Wilde and others were entertained by Rollinat, who recited his haunting poem, "Ballad of Troppmann." The performance was marked by the author's nervous excitement, adding to the poem's horror. Wilde expressed satisfaction, but the experience left the narrator feeling deeply melancholic. He pondered whether Wilde felt compelled to intervene in Rollinat's evident self-destruction. The narrator believed that Wilde's presence and authority could have made a difference, yet he remained silent. The next day, while crossing the Pont des Arts, the narrator asked Wilde if he would save a man jumping into the river. Wilde replied that it would be an impertinence to interfere, viewing the act as a calculated decision that he had no right to disrupt. This perspective illustrated Wilde's complex character—an egotist who also embodied altruism, merging individualism with a generous spirit, and revealing the tension between his strong nature and the notion of self-sacrifice.