Dolly Wilde

One of the wildest characters in A Secretive Life is the very real Dolly Wilde, Oscar Wilde's niece. I discovered her existance by chance some years ago when browsing a secondhand bookshop. I could hardly believe it, but there was Joan Schenkar's wonderful biography: Truly Wilde - The Unsettling Story of Dolly Wilde, Oscar's Unusual Niece. First published by Virago in 2000, though I didn't discover it until 2004. What a gem! Dolly really did live up to her name, and she really did look a lot like her uncle.
I tried to portray the best of Dolly - with all her attendant difficulties and fabulousness - and decided to sidestep the story of her later life. She died too young, 1895-1941, and there is much mystery about how her last hours were spent. Joan Schenkar brings as many of the puzzle pieces to life as it possible - though she suggests there is more to know, if that shoebox of letters or that diary stashed in the attic ever comes to light. There is always more to find out when you're a biographer. The photos shown here come from Joan Schenkar's biography.
We will leave Dolly on an up note, with a typical DW quote: I believe life could be one delightful sensation after another - really I do!

https://www.amazon.com.au/Secretive-Life-Sara-Hardy-ebook/dp/B09DKLSH93

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