In 1895, Oscar Wilde was sentenced to two years hard labour after being convicted for gross indecency. In
The Ballad of Reading Gaol he recounts the torments, both mental and physical, he endured during those trying years.
This collection includes several of his other greatest poems, such as
The Burden of Itys
,
Ravenna
, and
The Garden of Eros
. By turns touching, optimistic, heart-breaking, and thought-provoking, the poems draw upon both
Wilde's own experiences and his interpretations of Irish myths and legends. At times satirical and witty, yet also acutely observant, Oscar Wilde's voice continues to captivate readers to this day.