‘Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?’

On 6 April 1895, Oscar Wilde was arrested at the Cadogan Hotel, London, after losing a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry.

How we wish he’d fled the country, instead of waiting to be arrested! But, no; instead, he took the Socratic route and that ultimately led to his ‘hard labour’ imprisonment (‘Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?’) and early death – but that was a very brave act.

John Betjeman was so moved by this episode that he wrote a poem entitled, ‘The arrest of Oscar Wilde at the Cadogan Hotel’.

We thought we’d mark this sad day by posting these newspaper reports about the trial and arrest of Wilde.

You can also read these newspaper reports about Oscar Wilde (from a happier time in his life), which we posted on the blog back in October 2012.

Hartlepool Mail – Saturday 06 April 1895

Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000378/18950406/022/0005