The British Library has honoured late Irish writer Oscar Wilde by reissuing a reader's card in his name, 130 years after his original was revoked following his conviction for gross indecency.
The celebrated novelist, poet and playwright was excluded from the library's reading room in 1895 over his charge for having had homosexual relationships, which was a criminal offence at the time.
The new card, which will be collected by his grandson, author Merlin Holland, on Thursday, is intended to acknowledge the injustices and immense suffering Wilde faced, the library said.
Mr. Holland described the new card as a lovely gesture of forgiveness and expressed confidence that his grandfather's spirit would be touched and delighted.
The British Library recorded the decision to revoke Wilde's pass for the then British Museum reading room in its trustees' minutes for June 15, 1895, following his two-year prison sentence for the homosexual relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, litigation that resulted in Wilde's conviction.
Current British Library chair Dame Carol Black described Wilde as one of the most significant literary figures of the nineteenth century and reiterated that reissuing the card serves to honour his memory and address the injustices he encountered.
Mr. Holland noted the significance of Wilde's legacy, particularly emphasizing how his works, especially the letter De Profundis, resonate with those in moments of despair, providing hope and encouragement.
The new card will have an expiry date of November 30, 1900, marking the date of Wilde's death, allowing for a poignant connection to history as it rekindles the discussion regarding the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals and the cultural shift since Wilde's time.
