+ + – N. Y. Times. 11: 422. Je. 30, ’06. 500w.
Reviewed by Louise Collier Willcox.
+ + North American. 183: 121. Jl. ’06. 70w. + R. of Rs. 34: 127. Jl. ’06. 120w.
Sherard, Robert Harborough. Life of Oscar Wilde. $4.50. Kennerley.
“The life-story of the brilliant but erratic genius, Oscar Wilde, whose sun of promise rose so bright and had so dire a setting, is presented to us in a handsome and dignified volume.... Although the book is confessedly an apology or defense, and promises at the outset to refute many calumnies and to effect noteworthy results in clearing from the foul aspersions of malignity a name still dear to hundreds of faithful disciples, yet there is fortunately, a wise avoidance of unsavory details regarding the events that clouded Wilde’s closing years and led to his tragic end.... The volume ... is supplied with a good index; while the bibliography, showing a surprising number of titles in prose and verse, with translations into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Swedish, and Polish, gives a new sense of the brilliancy of Wilde’s talents as a writer, mingled with regret and pity for his downfall as a man.”—Dial.
“One cannot deny that it is interesting, even though parts of it be painful.” Richard W. Kemp.
+ – Bookm. 24: 365. D. ’06. 1860w.
“Mr. Sherard’s account of this strange and broken life is full and interesting, although it suffers from the extravagant tone of eulogy and admiration which colors it throughout. It is to be taken as we have said, at the outset, as a defense and an apology; and taken thus, it well repays perusal.”
+ + – Dial. 41: 156. S. 16, ’06. 2960w.