Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas, 1870-1945. British author
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Finding-Aid for the Douglas Papers [00183]Collection Description
Letters, 1932-1933
3 items
Access: Open
Born in Lancing, Sussex, Britain, his father was John Sholto Douglas, the 8th. Marquis of Queensberry (1844-1900). Alfred Douglas was brought up at Kinmount, the family home in Dumfriesshire, but by his late teens his parents were divorced and the home sold.
He began writing poetry while an undergraduate at Oxford, and his first serious poem was Autumn Days which was published in The Oxford Magazine in 1890. Known to his friends as "Bosie," he is best remembered for his relationship with Oscar Wilde, who said of him that he "understands me and my art, and loves both. I hope never to be separated from him." Wilde’s praise notwithstanding, Bosie is often considered one of the premiere scoundrels in all of English literature, and had a decisive influence upon Wilde’s ill-fated attempt to litigate against the Marquis of Queensberry.
The three letters are to unnamed recipients. In them Douglas outlines publishing information about his major works, including Oscar Wilde and Myself. One of the letters, dated June 10, 1933, accompanied a copy of his book, The True History of Shakespeare’s Sonnets.
Selected Names
Douglas, Lord Alfred Bruce, 1870-1945. British author