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| Oscar Wilde: Photos of prisoner he was 'attracted to' revealed | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Photographs of the only working-class man Oscar Wilde took an interest in have been unearthed in a search of Reading Prison archives. | |
| The pictures of Henry Bushnell were found by Prof Peter Stoneley, from the University of Reading, who carried out a study of Wilde's fellow prisoners. | |
| He said the playwright had been "attracted to" Bushnell but details of their relationship were unknown. | He said the playwright had been "attracted to" Bushnell but details of their relationship were unknown. |
| Wilde was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for homosexuality in 1895. | Wilde was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for homosexuality in 1895. |
| In a letter the disgraced playwright mentioned a "little dark-eyed chap", believed to be labourer Bushnell, who was jailed for theft 21 times between 1892 and 1911, said Prof Stoneley. | In a letter the disgraced playwright mentioned a "little dark-eyed chap", believed to be labourer Bushnell, who was jailed for theft 21 times between 1892 and 1911, said Prof Stoneley. |
| Most inmates were not photographed but, as a repeat offender, Bushnell was. There are seven mugshots of him in the archives of the recently closed Reading Prison. | Most inmates were not photographed but, as a repeat offender, Bushnell was. There are seven mugshots of him in the archives of the recently closed Reading Prison. |
| 'Private relationships' | 'Private relationships' |
| Speaking on the 160th anniversary of Wilde's birth, Prof Stoneley said: "We don't know the full details of the relationship between Wilde and Bushnell. | Speaking on the 160th anniversary of Wilde's birth, Prof Stoneley said: "We don't know the full details of the relationship between Wilde and Bushnell. |
| "However, Victorian prisoners were not officially even allowed to speak to each other while in prison - much less eat or work together, or form private relationships. | "However, Victorian prisoners were not officially even allowed to speak to each other while in prison - much less eat or work together, or form private relationships. |
| "What we do know is that as well as mentioning him in his letters, Wilde sent money to Bushnell after he was released from prison, although further meetings are unlikely." | "What we do know is that as well as mentioning him in his letters, Wilde sent money to Bushnell after he was released from prison, although further meetings are unlikely." |
| Records about the execution of Charles Wooldridge, the soldier whose death is the subject of Wilde's work The Ballad of Reading Gaol, were also found in the archives. | Records about the execution of Charles Wooldridge, the soldier whose death is the subject of Wilde's work The Ballad of Reading Gaol, were also found in the archives. |
| In records that detail the execution of Trooper Wooldridge, the prison doctor noted that he had a "rather long" neck. | In records that detail the execution of Trooper Wooldridge, the prison doctor noted that he had a "rather long" neck. |
| The study revealed details of the Victorian prison system, which Wilde went on to campaign against. | The study revealed details of the Victorian prison system, which Wilde went on to campaign against. |
| The Oscar Wilde and Reading Gaol exhibition opens at the Berkshire Record Office on Monday. | The Oscar Wilde and Reading Gaol exhibition opens at the Berkshire Record Office on Monday. |