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Details
WILDE, Oscar. An Ideal Husband. London: Leonard Smithers, 1899.
Small 4o. Original rose cloth, covers with gilt ornaments, gilt-lettered on spine, uncut (spine very lightly soiled). Provenance: Ernest Flower (1865-1926), philanthropist and Conservative M.P. (presentation inscription).
FIRST EDITION, LARGE-PAPER ISSUE, number 94 of 100 copies signed by Wilde. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY WILDE TO ERNEST FLOWER on the blank page facing the title: "To Ernest Flower in sincere recognition: in gratitude: from the author."
Wilde's association with Ernest Flower was brief but significant: the Conservative M.P. for Bradford West was one of only two politicians who visited Wilde in jail and advocated for his better treatment. "Rupert Burdon Haldane... Liberal M.P... as a member of the Home Office committee investigating prisons, visited Wilde in Wandsworth Gaol and advised him to use his prison experiences as a subject for literature... The only other M.P. who showed sympathy was Ernest Flower, philanthropist and Conservative M.P... who made 'serious representations' to the Home Secretary about Wilde's condition during his imprisonment" (Rupert Hart-Davis in Letters, p.706).
An Ideal Husband was first staged in London in January 1895 and was shut down on April 6th, the day after Wilde's arrest. It remained unpublished until after his release from prison. It appeared in July 1899 while he was living in France and Wilde died the following November 30th. Mason 385.
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FIRST EDITION, LARGE-PAPER ISSUE, number 94 of 100 copies signed by Wilde. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY WILDE TO ERNEST FLOWER on the blank page facing the title: "To Ernest Flower in sincere recognition: in gratitude: from the author."
Wilde's association with Ernest Flower was brief but significant: the Conservative M.P. for Bradford West was one of only two politicians who visited Wilde in jail and advocated for his better treatment. "Rupert Burdon Haldane... Liberal M.P... as a member of the Home Office committee investigating prisons, visited Wilde in Wandsworth Gaol and advised him to use his prison experiences as a subject for literature... The only other M.P. who showed sympathy was Ernest Flower, philanthropist and Conservative M.P... who made 'serious representations' to the Home Secretary about Wilde's condition during his imprisonment" (Rupert Hart-Davis in Letters, p.706).
An Ideal Husband was first staged in London in January 1895 and was shut down on April 6th, the day after Wilde's arrest. It remained unpublished until after his release from prison. It appeared in July 1899 while he was living in France and Wilde died the following November 30th. Mason 385.