333

[Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)]

Aristophanes at Oxford. O.W. by Y.T.O.

Oxford: J. Vincent, n.d. [i.e. 1894].
First edition, limited issue, octavo; one of 750 copies printed; rebound in full brown morocco, ruled in blind, gilt-stamped with a wreath encircling a "W" initial on the front board, spine lettered and stamped in gilt, gilt-decorated turn-ins, black silk page marker, with the original front wrapper preserved and bound-in at rear (mostly unopened, scattered small spots and stains; boards a bit bowed, spine sunned, joints starting, small area of loss to lower end of spine and at corners, offsetting to free endpapers from turn-ins, minor open edge tear to front free endpaper); 7 ½ x 4 7/8 in.

Penned under the anonymous initials "Y.T.O," Aristophanes at Oxford is a satirical play attacking writer Oscar Wilde. According to their preface, the authors (assumed to be a group of Oxford undergraduate students) were motivated to write the play due to "an honest dislike for ‘Dorian Gray', ‘Salome', the ‘Yellow Book' and the whole of the erotic, lack-a-daisical, opium-cigarette literature of the day." They admit to never interacting with Wilde in person; however, their criticisms take on a somewhat homophobic tone when later making an innuendo about glimpsing him on campus surrounded by, "a throng of admiring Adonises." Very scarce at auction, the last copy in RBH being offered in 1982.

Mason 685.

  • Condition: Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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