The Ballad of Reading Gaol

By Oscar Wilde

Book Overview

Step into the hauntingly beautiful world of Oscar Wilde's ""The Ballad of Reading Gaol,"" a timeless masterpiece that delves deep into the human soul. This poignant narrative, inspired by Wilde's own imprisonment, captures the raw emotions of despair, redemption, and the unyielding spirit of humanity. With its lyrical prose and profound insights, this ballad transcends time, offering readers a glimpse into the struggles and resilience of the human condition. Once lost to the sands of time, this extraordinary work has been out of print for decades. Now, thanks to Alpha Editions, it has been lovingly republished for the current and future generations to cherish. This is not just a book; it's a collector's edition-a treasure trove of literary brilliance that will captivate your heart and mind. Whether you're a seasoned Wilde enthusiast or a newcomer to his genius, ""The Ballad of Reading Gaol"" is a must-have addition to your collection. Immerse yourself in its pages and discover why Oscar Wilde remains one of the most revered voices in literature. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of literary history-secure your copy today

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9366380867
• ISBN13: 9789366380865
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 22 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

One of poetry's great masterpieces

Essential for any lover of great poetry, and certainly for any fan of Oscar Wilde is his great poem, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol." Scarcely the only thing he wrote after his return from his notorious 2-year prison term, The Ballad of Reading Gaol is a moving and tragic account of one man's suffering. One could go on and on - writing hundreds of pages in essay form - about the indignities and injustices of prison life, but this goes toward saying it much better than any ivory tower intellectual argument ever could. Wilde, winner of the infamous Newdigate Prize For Poetry at Oxford University, had long been an immaculate poet - an a born writer - but he practically anandoned the form after his marriage and the start of his career as a playwright in the early 1890's (aside from that strange amalgram of a poem, The Sphinx.) And yet, this is almost exclusively the only thing Wilde wrote after his release before his untimely death in 1900. Thankfully, the great artist went out with a bang. The Ballad fuses some of the best and clearest writing I have ever read in the English language with a poetic sensibility and a true and tragic sense of real suffering, thereby creating one of the great poems of all-time.Many anthologies of Wilde's writings are available, and perhaps buying a book that simply includes this lone poem is questionable. I definitely suggest that you go for a Complete Works if you are new to the author; however, if you'd like a travel-worthy copy of certain smaller works - such as this poem - then editions such as this will serve you well. Besides, this edition has as well those beautiful paintings to go along with it - something I'm sure Oscar himself would've loved.

Key reading for Wilde enthusiast

As a student of Wilde's life and works, I find this is essential reading. Who needs Shakespeare to outline tradgey? Wilde was imprisoned after a second trial (the first was a no decision). He was confined in the horrid English jails for two years. "The wretched prisoner is then left a prey to the most weakening, depressing and humiliating malady.... punished with the greatest severity and brutality. Each and all these things I had to transform into a spirtual experience." The balladoutlines the horrors he and others endure who are prisoners of conscience. A terrible tragedy.