Although Dublin has produced a prize collection of socialites over the years, none has quite equalled the level of recognition achieved by Oscar Wilde, and a book published in Dublin this week aims to reclaim the formative role of the writer's native city.
Wilde The Irishman, a collection of essays published by Yale University Press, was launched last night at the writers' childhood home at No 1 Merrion Square, in the drawing room where the young Oscar sat in on his mother's famous weekly literary salon.
The American College in Dublin, which currently occupies the house, had flown Wilde's grandson, Merlin Holland over from London to perform the launch, which coincides with the centenary of the first publication of the Ballad Of Reading Gaol. Host for the evening was the American College's president, Donald E. Ross, who had jetted in from his day job as president of Lynn University in Florida.
The academic world was represented by author and historian, Tim Pat Coogan, DIT president Brendan Goldsmith and Canon Dr Muriel McCarthy of Marsh's Library.
The international aspect of Wildean heritage was also amply acknowledged. The book's stated mission of repossessing Oscar from the British literary tradition did not preclude the participation of the British ambassador, Veronica Sutherland and her husband Alex Sutherland. Other diplomats included the Czech ambassador Lubos Novy and his wife Margit, the Polish ambassador Janusz Skolimowski and his wife Janina, the Hungarian ambassador Laszlo Mohai and the Mexican ambassador Daniel Dultzin.
The book's editor, Jerusha McCormack of UCD's English Department, explained that the book seeks to place Wilde within the political and folk tradition of Ireland from which he had been previously excluded. Contributors to the book include UCD professor Declan Kiberd, poet Derek Mahon, playwright Frank McGuinness, actor Alan Stanford and Irish Times journalist and critic, Fintan O'Toole. Wilde The Irishman ends with a brief, powerful and previously unpublished piece by Seamus Heaney.