In 1895, the world's first celebrity trial challenged the creaking moral core of the British Empire. Dr Anthony Delaney traces the extraordinary trajectory of Oscar Wilde—from the toast of London’s West End, a shining star on both sides of the Atlantic, to the disgraced accused standing before the Old Bailey, charged with "Gross Indecency." Delaney argues that these three trials were about far more than a single fate: they were a reckoning for Victorian society, where public virtues hid private vices and the press fuelled a voracious demand for scandal.
Exploring key locations - from the luxurious Savoy Hotel, where Wilde’s recklessness peaked, to the grim walls of Bow Street Police Station - Anthony investigates the sensational newspaper coverage that both created and destroyed him.
With the help of experts, including Wilde’s grandson, Merlin Holland, the film uncovers how Wilde's persecution fundamentally changed the social landscape, making same-sex attraction a target of intense intolerance and fuelling a hostile environment for decades.
Ultimately, this is the story of the man caught in the centre of the perfect storm, who, standing up for his own integrity, achieved his status as the modern icon of rebellion and resilience.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………...........................................................................................................
If you’d like to learn more about the legacy of the trial, Merlin Holland’s latest book ‘After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal’ is out now.
In it, Holland charts the extraordinary afterlife of the legendary writer and thinker, and traces the dramatic fluctuations in Wilde's posthumous reputation over the past 125 years. https://europaeditions.co.uk/book/9781787705920/after-oscar-the-legacy-of-a-scandal
And you can hear more from Anthony, on his podcast, co-presented with Dr Maddy Pelling, for History Hit: 'After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal'. https://podfollow.com/1705694900/view
Up Next in New Releases
-
Ancient Adventures: Libya
Join Dan Snow on a special expedition that goes far off the beaten track of history as we venture to Libya in North Africa to explore extraordinary Greek and Roman sites, centred around one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, Cyrene.
After years of civil war and instability, History Hit...
-
The Trials of Joan of Arc
We all know the name, Joan of Arc. But who really was this celebrated voice of the people of France? For some she is a simple peasant girl - one of the people. For others, she is a champion of nation and church. For the English, she was simply the enemy.
Dr Eleanor Janega is on a mission to deci...
-
The Ashmolean Up Close: King Alfred's...
The fifth film in our series exploring the remarkable collections of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
Dan Snow joins Museum Director Xa Sturgis, to delve into the museum's Anglo-Saxon treasures, including the famed Alfred Jewel. Alongside other exquisite artefacts, such as a warrior's sword and v...
10 Comments