[Chris O'Carroll]

No 4247
Set by Leonora Casement
We want biographical notes about famous authors supplied by publishers keen to attract readers but not overly familiar with their writers. A winning entry years ago began as follows: “Nature and stamina are among the principal interests of William Wordsworth . . . Mr Wordsworth believes a poet’s private life should be shrouded in decent reticence and has vouchsafed but scanty personal details for publication . . .”
Max 150 words by 11 October comp@newstatesman.co.uk

[Brian Allgar]

Mr Oscar Wilde is the much-loved author of that peerless comedy, “The Importance of being Earnest”, and we believe that this collection of hitherto-unpublished works will afford similar pleasure to his readers.

Mr Wilde’s philanthropic activities include his role as a prison visitor, where he is much appreciated for his readings of ballads in gaol.

We understand that his other interests include boxing, and that he was of great assistance to the Marquess of Queensberry in drawing up the rules for personal combat between gentlemen.

ADDENDUM

Since this book went to press, we have learnt with deep sorrow of the death of Mr Wilde in Paris, and we extend our sincerest condolences to his family. We can imagine no better epitaph for Mr Wilde than a quotation from his own play, concerning the death in Paris of Earnest: “What a lesson for him! I trust he will profit by it.”