Oscar Wilde
persuaded Oscar to sue the Marquess for libel. As homosexuality was itself illegal,
Queensberry was able to destroy Oscar's case at the trial by calling as witnesses rent boys who
would describe Wilde's sexual encounters in open court.
Oscar lost the libel case against Queensberry and was arrested by the crown. With
essentially no credible defence against charges of homosexual conduct, he was convicted and
sentenced to two years hard labour, the latter part in Reading Gaol. Unreformed Dickensian
prison conditions caused a calamitous series of illnesses and brought him to death's door.
Constance fled the country with their children and changed the family name, always
hoping that Oscar would return to his family and give up Bosie, now also living in exile.
When Oscar was released from prison in 1897, he tried to comply with Constance's wishes,
sending Bosie a deeply moving epic letter, "De Profundis", explaining why he could never see
him again.
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