Later Years
Following Oscar's arrest and first trial in April 1895, Willie claimed that he gave his brother shelter when he was unable to find rooms in London. Willie said that Oscar "fell down on my threshold like a wounded stag". Standing by his brother, Willie wrote to Bram Stoker, "Bram, my friend, poor Oscar was not as bad as people thought him. He was led astray by his Vanity – & conceit, & he was so 'got at' that he was weak enough to be guilty – of indiscretions and follies – that is all.... I believe this thing will help to purify him body & soul".
Willie did not meet Oscar when he was released from prison in 1897. On 13 March 1899 Willie died aged 46 at 9, Cheltenham Terrace in Chelsea from complications related to his alcoholism. After Robert Ross wrote to Oscar in France informing him of Willie's death, Oscar wrote "I suppose it had been expected for some time.... Between him and me there had been, as you know, wide chasms for many years. Requiescat in Pace".
His widow married in 1900 with the Dutch born, London based translator Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (1865-1921).
Read more about this topic: Willie Wilde
Famous quotes containing the word years:
“In the years of the Roman Republic, before the Christian era, Roman education was meant to produce those character traits that would make the ideal family man. Children were taught primarily to be good to their families. To revere gods, one’s parents, and the laws of the state were the primary lessons for Roman boys. Cicero described the goal of their child rearing as “self- control, combined with dutiful affection to parents, and kindliness to kindred.””
—C. John Sommerville (20th century)
“To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.”
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