_A Criticism by_ "_A_"
(LORD ALFRED DOUGLAS?)
"The English are very fond of a man who admits he has been wrong."
(_The Ideal Husband_).
"DE PROFUNDIS"
_A Criticism by_
Lord Alfred Douglas
In a painful passage in this interesting posthumous book (it takes the
form of a letter to an unnamed friend), Oscar Wilde relates how, on
November the 13th, 1895, he stood for half an hour on the platform of
Clapham Junction, handcuffed and in convict dress, surrounded by an amused
and jeering mob. "For a year after that was done to me," he writes, "I
wept every day at the same hour and for the same space of time." That was
before he had discovered or thought he had discovered that his terrible
experiences in prison, his degradation and shame were a part, and a
necessary part, of his artistic life, a completion of his incomplete soul.
After he had learnt humility in the bitterest school that "man's
inhumanity to man" provides for unwilling scholars, after he had drained
the cup of sorrow to the dregs, after his spirit was broken--he wrote this
book in which he tried to persuade himself and others that he had learnt
by suffering and despair what life and pleasure had never taught him.
If Oscar Wilde's spirit, returning to this world in a malicious mood, had
wished to devise a pleasant and insinuating trap for some of his old
enemies of the press, he could scarcely have hit on a better one than this
book. I am convinced it was written in passionate sincerity at the time,
and yet it represents a mere mood and an unimportant one of the man who
wrote it, a mood too which does not even last through the 150 pages of the
book. "The English are very fond of a man who admits he has been wrong,"
he makes one of his characters in "The Ideal Husband" say, and elsewhere
in this book he compares the advantages of pedestals and pillories in
their relation to the public's attitude towards himself. Well here he is
in the pillory, and here also is Mr. Courtney in the "Daily Telegraph"
getting quite fond of him for the very first time. Here is Oscar Wilde, "a
genius," "incontestably one of the greatest dramatists of modern times" as
he is now graciously allowed to be, turning up unexpectedly with an
admission that he was in the wrong, and telling us that his life and his
art would have been incomplete without his imprisonment, that he has
learnt humility and found a new mode of expression in suffering. He is
"purged by grief," "chastened by suffering," and everything, in short,
that he should be, and Mr. Courtney is touched and pleased. What Mr.
Courtney and others have failed to realise, and what Wilde himself did
realise very soon after he wrote this interesting but rather pathetically
ineffective book, is that the mood which produced it was no other than the
first symptom of that mental and physical disease generated by suffering
and confinement which culminated in the death of its gifted and
unfortunate author a few years later. As long as the spirit of revolt was
left in Oscar Wilde, so long was left the fire of creative genius. When
the spirit of revolt died, the flame began to subside, and continued to
subside gradually with spasmodic flickers till its ultimate extinction. "I
have got to make everything that has happened good for me." He writes,
"The plank bed, the loathsome food, the hard rope shredded into oakum till
one's finger tips grow dull with pain, the menial offices with which each
day begins, the harsh orders that routine seems to necessitate, the
dreadful dress that makes sorrow grotesque to look at, the silence, the
solitude, the shame--each and all these things I have to transform into a
spiritual experience. There is not a single degradation of the body which
I must not try and make into a spiritualising of the soul." But, alas!
plank beds, loathsome food, menial offices, and oakum picking do not
spiritualise the soul; at any rate, they did not spiritualise Oscar
Wilde's soul. The only effect they had was to destroy his magnificent
intellect, and even, as some passages in this book show to temporarily
cloud his superb sense of humour. The return of freedom gave him back the
sense of humour, and the wreck of his magnificent intellect served him so
well to the end of his life that, although he had hopelessly lost the
power of concentration necessary to the production of literary work, he
remained to the day of his death the most brilliant and the most
intellectual talker in Europe.
It must not be supposed, however, that this book is not a remarkable book
and one which is not worth careful reading. There are fine prose passages
in it, and occasional felicities of phrase which recall the Oscar Wilde of
"The House of Pomegranates" and the "Prose-Poems," and here and there
rather unexpectedly comes an epigram like this for example: "There were
Christians before Christ. For that we should be grateful. The unfortunate
thing is that there have been none since." True, he spoils the epigram by
adding, "I make one exception, St. Francis of Assisi." A concession to the
tyranny of facts and the relative importance of sincerity to style, which
is most uncharacteristic of the "old Oscar." Nevertheless, the trace of
the master hand is still visible, and the book contains much that is
profound and subtle on the philosophy of Christ as conceived by this
modern evangelist of the gospel of Life and Literature. One does not
travel further than the 33rd page of the book before finding glaring and
startling inconsistencies in the mental attitude of the writer towards his
fate, for whereas on page 18 in a rather rhetorical passage he speaks of
the "eternal disgrace" he had brought on the "noble and honoured name"
bequeathed him by his father and mother, on page 33 "Reason" tells him
"that the laws under which he was convicted are wrong and unjust laws, and
the system under which he has suffered a wrong and unjust system." But
this is the spirit of revolt not quite crushed. He says that if he had
been released a year sooner, as in fact he very nearly was, he would have
left his prison full of rage and bitterness, and without the treasure of
his new-found "Humility." I am unregenerate enough to wish that he had
brought his rage and bitterness with him out of prison. True, he would
never have written this book if he had come out of prison a year sooner,
but he would almost certainly have written several more incomparable
comedies, and we who reverenced him as a great artist in words, and
mourned his downfall as an irreparable blow to English Literature would
have been spared the rather painful experience of reading the posthumous
praise now at last so lavishly given to what certainly cannot rank within
measurable distance of his best work.
A.
From "_The Motorist and Traveller_" (March 1, 1905).
LIST OF PRIVATELY ISSUED HISTORICAL, ARTISTIC,
AND CLASSICAL WORKS IN ENGLISH
Thais
_Romance of the Byzantine Empire (Fourth Century)_
From the French of ANATOLE FRANCE
With Twenty Copper-plate Etchings by Martin van Maele
PRICE 21_s._
"THAIS" is a work of religious mysticism. The story of the Priest-hero who
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Anatole France is one of the most brilliant literary men in the world, and
stands foremost amongst giants like Daudet, Zola, and Maupassant.
The book before us is a historical novel based on the legend of the
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_Custodes, sed quis custodiet ipsos?_ Paphnutius has deceived himself,
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is left at the end, baffled and blaspheming, before the dead body of
the woman he has loved all the time without knowing that he loved her.
It is impossible for the reviewer to convey any adequate notion of the
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human theme. Alike as a piece of psychical analysis and as a picture
of the age, this book stands head and shoulders above any that we have
ever read about the period with which it deals. It is a work of rare
beauty, and, we may add, of profound moral truth, albeit not written
precisely _virginibus puerisque_.
It is emphatically the work of a great artist.--(From a Notice in
"_The Pall Mall Gazette_").
The Well of Santa Clara
This work is, from the deep interest of its contents, the beauty of its
typography and paper, and the elegance and daring of the illustrations,
one of the finest works in _edition de luxe_ yet offered to the collectors
of rare books.
Apart from the other stories, all of them written with that exquisite
grace and ironical humour for which Anatole France is unmatched, "The
Human Tragedy," forming half of the book, is alone worthy to rank amongst
the master-efforts of literature. The dominant idea of "The Human Tragedy"
is foreshadowed by the quotation from Euripedes: _All the life of man is
full of pain, and there is no surcease of sorrow. If there be aught better
elsewhere than this present life, it is hid, shrouded in the clouds of
darkness._
The English rendering of this work is, from its purity and strength of
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New Grasset characters have been used for this work, limited to 500
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Twenty-one clever COPPER-PLATE ENGRAVINGS (in the most finished style) by
MARTIN VAN MAELE.
The Well of Santa Clara
_CONTENTS_
Pages
Prologue.--The Reverend Father Adone Doni 1
I. San Satiro 18
II. Messer Guido Cavalcanti 71
III. Lucifer 102
IV. The Loaves of Black Bread 116
V. The Merry-hearted Buffalmacco 126
I. The Cockroaches 127
II. The Ascending up of Andria Tafin 143
III. The Master 163
IV. The Painter 172
VI. The Lady of Verona 184
VII. The Human Tragedy
I. Fra Giovanni 193
II. The Lamp 206
III. The Seraphic Doctor 210
IV. The Loaf on the Flat Stone 214
V. The Table under the Fig-tree 218
VI. The Temptation 223
VII. The Subtle Doctor 232
VIII. The Burning Coal 245
IX. The House of Innocence 248
X. The Friends of Order 260
XI. The Revolt of Gentleness 271
XII. Words of Love 280
XIII. The Truth 288
XIV. Giovanni's Dream 304
XV. The Judgment 317
XVI. The Prince of this World 326
VIII. The Mystic Blood 343
IX. A Sound Security 360
X. History of Dona Maria d'Avalos and the Duke d'Andria 379
XI. Bonaparte at San Miniato 405
PRICE: ONE GUINEA.
Oscar Wilde's Works.
Poems in Prose:
The Artist
The Doer of Good
The Disciple
The Master
The House of Judgment, etc.
Limited Edition of Five Hundred Copies on superior
English vellum paper, and printed in Grasset characters in
red and black. Price 5s.
Fifty copies on Japanese paper. Price 10s.
OSCAR WILDE:
What Never Dies
(Ce qui ne meurt pas)
One Volume small crown 8vo., bound in white parchment. Nearly 400 pages.
Price 10s. 6d.
Translated into English by 'Sebastian Melmoth' (OSCAR WILDE), from the
French of BARBEY D'AUREVILLY. A strange and powerful romance of LOVE AND
PASSION IN A COUNTRY HOUSE, similar to the plot unfolded in Guy de
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wonderful English by OSCAR WILDE.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
By Oscar Wilde
Sole Authorized Version
_Limited Edition of One Hundred Copies on Real Hand-made English paper,
Price 15s._
Translated from the Latin by Oscar Wilde
The Satyricon of Petronius
A Literal and Complete Translation with Notes and Introduction.
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_Price_, L1. 11_s._ 6_d._
_Fifteen Copies on Papier de Chine, Price_ L2. 2s.
This Edition is not only the ... MOST COMPLETE AND BRILLIANT ever done
into English, but it constitutes also a typographical _bijou_, being
printed in a limited number on handmade paper in red and black throughout.
Unknown Poems by Lord Byron
DON LEON
A Poem by the late Lord Byron
Author of Childe Harold, Don Juan, etc.
And forming part of the Private Journal of His Lordship, supposed to have
been entirely destroyed by Thos. Moore.
"_Pardon, dear Tom, these thoughts on days gone by;
Me men revile and thou must justify.
Yet in my bosom apprehensions rise
(For brother poets have their jealousies),
Lest under false pretences thou shoudst turn
A faithless friend, and these confessions burn._"
"DON JUAN" is generally spoken of as a composition remarkable for its
daring gallantry; but here is a long connected poetical work by the same
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These poems were issued _sub rosa_ in 1866, and owing to the fact that
interested persons bought up immediately on its appearance and burnt the
entire output, any stray copies that chanced to escape the general
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_The size of the book is small crown octavo, 134 pp., in artistic paper
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This issue has been limited to Two Hundred and Fifty copies as follows:
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175 on Ordinary Vellum paper 10s.6d.
75 on French hand-made paper L1.1s.
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Curious By-Paths of History
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Followed by a fascinating study of
FLAGELLATION IN FRANCE from a Medical and Historical Standpoint
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The whole (in Two Volumes), Price 21s.
With this book is given away (undercover) a fine plate entitled _CONJUGAL
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Fascinating Historical Studies by a French Physician.
The Secret Cabinet of History
Peeped into by a Doctor (Dr. Cabanes)
Translated by W. C. COSTELLO, And preceded by a letter from the pen of
M. VICTORIEN SARDOU (de l'Academie francaise).
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Although this work has been published many times in French during the last
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The ... Evolution and Dissolution of the Sexual Instinct ...
By ... Doctor Charles FERE of the Bicetre Hospital, (PARIS)
Price: 21s.
"Truth and science are never immoral; but it cannot be denied that the
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The Only Worthy Translation into French
OSCAR WILDE
Intentions
Traduction francaise de HUGUES REBELL
Preface de CHARLES GROLLEAU
_Orne d'un portrait_
Un volume in-8o carre. Impression de luxe sur _antique vellum_.
Prix: 6 francs.
Il a ete tire _trente_ exemplaires sur Japon imperial.
Prix: 12 francs.
PARIS
CHARLES CARRINGTON, LIBRAIRE-EDITEUR
13, Faubourg Montmartre, 13
1906
NOTICE
"INTENTIONS" est un des ouvrages les plus curieux qui se puisse lire. On y
trouve tout l'esprit, si paradoxal, toute l'etonnante culture du brillant
ecrivain que fut Oscar WILDE.
Des cinq _Essais_ que contient ce livre, trois sont sous forme de dialogue
et donnent l'impression parfaite de ce qui fut le plus grand prestige de
WILDE: la Causerie.
La traduction que nous publions aujourd'hui, outre sa fidelite scrupuleuse
et son incontestable elegance, offre cet attrait particulier d'etre le
dernier travail d'un des jeunes maitres de la prose francaise, Hugues
REBELL, qui l'acheva peu de jours avant sa mort.
La preface de M. Charles GROLLEAU, ecrite avec une delicatesse remarquable
et une emotion penetrante, constitue la plus subtile etude psychologique
que l'on ait jamais publiee sur Oscar WILDE.
Sous presse:
_Du meme Auteur_:
Poemes en Prose.
La Duchesse de Padoue.
La Maison des Grenades.
L'oeuvre d'Oscar Wilde demande a etre traduite a la fois avec precision
et avec art. Les phrases ont des significations si tenues et le choix des
mots est si habile qu'une traduction defectueuse, abondante en contre-sens
ou en coquilles, risquerait de decevoir grandement le lecteur. Car il faut
bien compter que ceux qui se soucient de connaitre Oscar Wilde ne peuvent
etre ni des concierges ni des cochers de fiacre; ils n'appartiennent
certainement pas a ce "grand public" qui se delecte aux emouvants
feuilletons de nos quotidiens populaires ou qui savoure avidement les
elucubrations egrillardes de certains fabricants de pretendue litterature.
C'est ce qu'avait compris l'editeur Carrington quand il chargea Hugues
Rebell de lui traduire _Intentions_. Ces essais d'Oscar Wilde representent
plus particulierement le cote paradoxal et frondeur de sa personalite. Il
y exprime ses idees ou plutot ses subtilites esthetiques; il y "cause"
plus qu'ailleurs, a tel point que trois de ces essais sur cinq sont
dialogues; l'auteur s'entretient avec des personnages qu'il suppose aussi
cultives, aussi beaux esprits que lui-meme: "s'entretient" est beaucoup
dire, car ce sont plutot des contradicteurs auxquels il suggere les
objections dont il a besoin pour poursuivre le developpement et le
triomphe de ses arguments. La conversation vagabonde a plaisir et le
causeur y fait etalage de toutes les richesses de son esprit, de son
imagination, de sa memoire. Au milieu de ces citations, de ces allusions,
de ces exemples innombrables empruntes a tous les temps et a tous les
pays, le traducteur a chance de s'egarer s'il n'est lui-meme homme d'une
culture tres sure et tres variee. Hugues Rebell pouvait, sans danger de
paraitre ignorant ou ridicule, entreprendre de donner une version
d'_Intentions_. Il n'avait certes pas fait de la litterature anglaise
contemporaine, non plus que d'aucune epoque, l'objet d'etudes speciales.
Mais il connaissait cette litterature dans son ensemble beaucoup mieux que
certains qui s'autorisent de quelques excursions a Londres pour clamer a
tout venant leur competence douteuse. J'ai souvenir de maintes occasions
ou Rebell, avec cet air mysterieux qu'il ne pouvait s'empecher de prendre
pour les choses les plus simples, m'attirait a l'ecart de tel groupe
d'amis, ou la conversation etait generale, pour me parler de tel jeune
auteur sur qui l'une de mes chroniques avait attire son attention. Et,
chaque fois, il faisait preuve, en ces matieres, d'un savoir tres etendu.
Hugues Rebell fit donc cette necessaire traduction, et, dit l'editeur dans
une note preliminaire, "c'est le dernier travail auquel il put se livrer.
Il nous en remit les derniers feuillets peu de jours avant sa mort".
Rebell devait prefacer ce travail d'une etude sur la vie et les oeuvres du
poete anglais, etude qu'il ne put qu'ebaucher, malheureusement, car, avec
Gide,--mais celui-ci d'un point de vue different et peut-etre oppose,--il
etait exclusivement qualifie pour saisir, demeler et interpreter l'etrange
personnalite de Wilde. Quelques fragments de cette etude nous sont donnes
cependant et ils nous font tres vivement regretter que le vigoureux et
paradoxal auteur de l'_Union des Trois Aristocraties_ n'ait pu achever son
travail.
Mais ce regret bien legitime se mitige grandement a mesure qu'on lit la
belle preface de M. Charles Grolleau. Prenant pour epigraphe cette pensee
de Pascal: "Je blame egalement et ceux qui prennent le parti de louer
l'homme, et ceux qui le prennent de le blamer, et ceux qui le prennent de
se divertir; et je ne puis approuver que ceux qui cherchent en gemissant",
M. Grolleau s'efforce de comprendre et de resoudre ce "douloureux
probleme" que fut Wilde. Et il le fait avec cette reserve et ce parfait
bon gout que doivent s'imposer les veritables amis et les sinceres
admirateurs d'Oscar Wilde. Il y a plus, dans ces cinquante pages: il y a
l'une des meilleures etudes qui aient jamais ete faites du brillant
dramaturge. Bien qu'il s'en defende, M. Grolleau, dans cette langue
elegante et harmonieuse que lui connaissent ceux qui ont lu ses beaux
vers, reussit a discerner mieux et a mieux reveler que certaines diatribes
"l'ame et la passion" de l'auteur de _De Profundis_.
Je me suis interdit d'ecrire une biographie. Je ne connais que
l'ecrivain, et l'homme est trop vivant encore et si blesse! J'ai la
devotion des plaies, et le plus beau rite de cette devotion est le
geste qui voile.