SaralnamaThe British Library gave Oscar Wilde a new reader's card, 130 years after revoking his original one. Wilde lost his card in 1895 when he was jailed for homosexuality. His grandson, Merlin Holland, will collect the card on Wilde's 171st birthday. The library aims to make up for the unfair treatment Wilde faced. It holds drafts of Wilde's famous plays and his prison letter. Dame Carol Black, the library's chair, called Wilde a key 19th-century literary figure. To visit the British Library, bring a valid ID and proof of address. (Updated 16 Oct 2025, 19:14 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- The British Library gave Oscar Wilde a new reader's card on 16 Oct 2023, 130 years after revoking his original one
- Wilde lost his card in 1895 when he was jailed for homosexuality
- His grandson, Merlin Holland, will collect the card on Wilde's 171st birthday