What is interesting about Bosie is that he was such a thoroughly bad character. It only adds to the fascination that this bundle of malice, treachery, deceit, hypocrisy and vanity was wrapped up in such attractive features. Wilde compared him to a pet lion-cub wreaking havoc on reaching actual size, but he was less impressive and more sinister than that, a King Charles spaniel of vicious temperament, a cute Walt Disney rattlesnake, or a beautiful child vampire. He was hardly an angel in the 1890s, but he truly blossomed after Oscar's death, when he converted to heterosexuality and the Catholic Church. Wilde called him a 'monster' and 'evil', and he seems to have devoted the long remainder of his life to proving Wilde wise as well as witty.

LRB 21 September 2000 | PDF Download