Wilde's Interview with the Robbie Ross

Wilde was interviewed by a representative of the St. James Gazette, Robbie Ross (1869-1918)Ross and Wilde had known each other for over a decade, and had become lovers around 1886, remaining in an open relationship and very close friends until Wilde's death. It is said that Ross was Wilde’s first homosexual relationship, and Ross’s ashes were placed on Wilde’s grave after his deathThe interview took place a month before Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed on February 14thThey discussed the relation of the artist to the audience, censorship, French dramatic criticism versus English theatrical criticism, French and English actors, past writers’ influence in his work, and The Importance of Being Earnest. 

Sources: 

https://sites.broadviewpress.com/lessons/DramaAnthology/OscarWildeInterview/OscarWildeInterview_print.html 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-importance-of-being-earnest-first-stage-production/ 

https://edsitement.neh.gov/student-activities/oscar-wildes-importance-being-earnest 

Fryer, Jonathan. Robbie Ross: Oscar Wilde's Devoted Friend. Carroll & Graf, 2002.

Associated Place(s)

Event date:

Jan 1895