After Oscar: the legacy of a scandal is a detailed study of the attitude of scholars and the public to Oscar Wilde and his works after his death in 1900. The book is written by Oscar Wilde's grandson, Merlin Holland, in order to refute the myths that surround the life and work of Oscar Wilde. Oscar Wild's mother changed the family name for herself and her to sons to Holland to protect them from public view. The book examines what life is like living in the shadow of an infamous writer and the difficulties encountered when your family story encounters fantasy created by other people.
Sections of the book include the time-frame 1897 when Wilde was released from prison until his death in 1900, then 1900-1918, 1918-1945, 1945-1967 and 1968-2024. The theme of society's attitudes to homosexuality over this period is outlined. The author looks at how his grandfather has been portrayed in the writing of others as well as in film. It is a long detailed work which I only looked at briefly, largely through lack of time to read it properly. There are detailed footnotes, bibliography and index as well as a section of photographs.
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