William Andrews Clark Oscar Wilde Lecture

The inaugural presentation of the William Andrews Clark Oscar Wilde Lecture was delivered by Merlin Holland, grandson of Oscar Wilde, in fall of 2007. This biennial series, made possible by a generous endowment founded by Mr. William Zachs, focuses on Wilde, his literary circle and the decadent movement of the 1890s. It highlights the Clark’s collection of Wilde material—the most comprehensive in the world—which includes autograph letters and drafts by Wilde and his circle; a nearly complete collection of printed editions of his works; photographs, original portraits, and caricatures; playbills and news cuttings.

2023–24
The Final Hours of Oscar Wilde: “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death”
—Joseph Bristow, University of California, Los Angeles

2021–22
Confounding the Critics, Surviving the Scandal: The Remarkable Reputation of Oscar Wilde
—Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde’s grandson

2018–19
“Wilde and the Law”
—Simon Stern, University of Toronto

2016–17
“Oscar Wilde, Rachilde, and the Mercure de France”
—Petra Dierkes-Thrun, Stanford University

2014–15
“Oscar Wilde and the Visual Arts”
—Nicholas Frankel, Virginia Commonwealth University

2012–13
“Oscar Wilde in the Marketplace”
—Rick Gekoski, rare book dealer, writer, broadcaster

2010–11
“Green Carnations: Wilde, Culture, and Crime”
—John Wilson Foster, Honorary Research Fellow, Queen’s University, Belfast

2007–08
“Oscar Wilde: Putting Music into Words”
—Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde’s grandson