Newly Discovered Oscar Wilde Letter Contains Writing Advice

Posted on March 28, 2013

The Telegraph reports that a previously unseen Oscar Wilde letter has been found. The 13-page letter is undated, but thought to have been written around 1890. The letter appears to have been targeted at a man named Mr. Morgan, a wannabe writer seeking advice. It contains some writing advice from Wilde.

Wilde says in the letter, "The best work in literature is always done by those who do not depend on it for their daily bread and the highest form of literature, Poetry, brings no wealth to the singer."

Wilde also writes, "Make some sacrifice for your art and you will be repaid but ask of art to sacrifice herself for you and a bitter disappointment may come to you."

Mike Heseltine, an auctioneer with Bloomsbury of London, told the Telegraph, "The gist of it is telling the recipient, a Mr Morgan, to write by all means but to make sure he has some other job to rely on for money."

We wonder what became of Mr. Morgan? Did he take Wilde's advice or are there some works by Mr. Morgan buried in the archives of some library in England.