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Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions, Volume 1
by Frank Harris
Introduction
Shaw's "Memories"
The Appendix
The crucifixion of the guilty is still more awe-inspiring than the crucifixionof the innocent; what do we men know of innocence?
I was advised on all hands not to write this book, and some English friendswho have read it urge me not to publish it.
"You will be accused of selecting the subject," they say, "because sexualviciousness appeals to you, and your method of treatment lays you opento attack.
"You criticise and condemn the English conception of justice, and Englishlegal methods: you even question the impartiality of English judges, and throwan unpleasant light on English juries and the English public—all of which isnot only unpopular but will convince the unthinking that you are a presumptuous,or at least an outlandish, person with too good a conceit of himself andaltogether too free a tongue."
I should be more than human or less if these arguments did not give me pause.
I would do noth