Lord Alfred Douglas: A Biography

Sir Robert Helpmann gave the performance of his career in Justin Fleming's classic play, The Cobra, in the Sydney Opera House, as the aged Lord Alfred Douglas, set during World War Two, as Bosie looked back on his doomed relationship with Oscar Wilde. Regarded as the definitive theatrical treatment of Wilde and Douglas, the play observed among other things that Wilde was the first Irishman to leave Ireland, go to England and become Greek.H Montgomery Hyde absolves Douglas of ruining Wilde, even finding Douglas "kindly" to younger people. This is a portrait hard to reconcile with the same Douglas who threw fits of ungovernable rage to have his way, and told various well wishers to butt out when they advised Oscar to go to France. Even the magistrate post-dated the warrant for Wilde's arrest to give him time to leave the country. Being Irish, why did Douglas insist on maintaining an Englishman's right to remain in England? Also, was it not critical that Douglas' insistance that Wilde sue the Mad Marquess of Queensberry was based on pure revenge against his hateful father? Hyde's book is excellent, notwithstanding, as it allows us to be the judge. It is finely accounted, well researched and has the merit of considered clarity. A good read. But it should be read alongside the classic play, The Cobra.

In 1983, Sir Robert Helpmann gave the performance of his career in Justin Fleming's magnificent play, The Cobra, in the Sydney Opera House, as the aged Lord Alfred Douglas, set during World War Two, as Bosie looked back on his doomed relationship with Oscar Wilde. Regarded as the definitive theatrical treatment of Wilde and Douglas, the play observed among other things that Wilde was the first Irishman to leave Ireland, go to England and become Greek.H Montgomery Hyde absolves Douglas of ruining Wilde, even finding Douglas "kindly" to younger people. This is a portrait hard to reconcile with the same Douglas who threw fits of ungovernable rage to have his way, and told various well wishers to butt out when they advised Oscar to go to France. Even the magistrate post-dated the warrant for Wilde's arrest to give him time to leave the country. Being Irish, why did Douglas insist on maintaining an Englishman's right to remain in England? Also, was it not critical that Douglas' insistance that Wilde sue the Mad Marquess of Queensberry was based on pure revenge against his hateful father? Hyde's book is excellent, notwithstanding, as it allows us to be the judge. It is finely accounted, well researched and has the merit of considered clarity. A good read. But it should be read alongside the classic play, The Cobra.