De Profundis. Aufzeichnungen Und Briefe Aus Dem Zuchthaus in Reading. Herausgegeben und Eingeleitet von Max Meyerfield Berlin: Verlag S. Fischer, 1905.
First German edition in book form. This copy inscribed by the editor, Max Meyerfield, in Italian to Fedor Mamroth, the theatre critic for the Frankfurter Zeitung. Meyerfield was the person responsible for spearheading the publication of this book.
Octavo. vii, 1-115, pp., with a beautiful double woodcut title page by Walter Tiemann in red & black and one large woodcut chapter initial in red & black. Original printed wrappers, front cover lettered in red & black, spine with title & woodcut ornaments in black, rear cover with woodcut printer's device. Spine chipped at head and foot with a mild crease, light chipping and wear to edge of wrappers. Still, a near fine copy of a very fragile item.
First German edition in book form, of Wilde's heart-wrenching essay on suffering and despair, following the true first edition of the work by a few months. An authorized translation into German appeared in Die Neue Rundschau, preceding the English language edition, and included a translation of the Four Letters written from Reading Prison, which did not appear in print in English until 1908. The current edition was issued just a few months later, just after the English language edition.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was one of the most successful and famous writers of his day. He is best known as a playwright, having written The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, and Lady Windermere’s Fan. However, he also wrote poetry (Ballad of Reading Gaol among others) and various prose works (Picture of Dorian Gray being his only novel). Due to his incredible talent, wit, and tribulations (he was jailed for sodomy) he is still an iconic and important figure today.
Mason, 390
ID:
3594
$
450