Oscar Wilde and his Circle

The National Portrait Gallery's series of compact, fully illustrated, historical guides to literary and artistic personalities and themes. Written by well-known contemporary writers, they use works from the Gallery's Collection to examine the lives, thoughts and relationships within each selected group.

The National Portrait Gallery’s series of compact, fully illustrated, historical guides to literary and artistic personalities and themes. Written by well-known contemporary writers, they use works from the Gallery’s Collection to examine the lives, thoughts and relationships within each selected group.One of literature’s most witty personalities, Oscar Wilde captivated London society. In this perceptive appraisal of Wilde and those around him – including Aubrey Beardsley, Sir Max Beerbohm and Wilde’s lover, Lord Alfred Douglas (‘Bosie’) – Simon Callow captures the spirit of one of Britain’s most feted, but ultimately tragic literary figures.