Wilde about Mary - The legacy of Lady Eccles
2 February 2005 :: Posted by Catriona Finlayson
In celebration of the life of Mary Hyde Eccles, collector and bibliophile, the Library is exhibiting a selection of books, manuscripts, works of art and memorabilia relating to Oscar Wilde and his circle from her renowned collection which forms an important part of her legacy to the British Library. The Hyde Eccles collection contains over 1,500 items and has been valued at over $7 million dollars.
Beginning with an opportunity to acquire Wilde's correspondence with his friend Reginald Turner, the interest of Mary and her first husband, Donald Hyde in Wilde's life and writings steadily grew, and they began to collect material on an increasingly wider scale. The display 'Oscar Wilde and his Circle' traces the rise and fall of the controversial literary figure and draws on some of the most important, interesting and unusual items in the collection, much of which is still to be mined by researchers. The exhibition opens on 3 February and runs until 31 March 2005.
Oscar Wilde's early life is illustrated through lecture notes, poems written at Oxford University and correspondence with well known literary and theatrical figures, including the actress Ellen Terry and the poet Robert Browning. His hugely successful 1882 American lecture tour, during which he was much featured in cartoons and advertisements, and the scrapbook charting his US travels highlight his rapid rise to literary celebrity. Wilde's love for his wife Constance has not always been fully recognised but letters to friends, inscriptions in books and a moving poem to her reveal a strong bond. The case of material entitled 'Friends and Enemies' reads like a Who's Who for the late 19th century, crammed with photographs, letters and ephemera. The final section, 'Trials and Downfall' vividly illustrates the impact and aftermath of Wilde's trial. The sale catalogue from his London home in Tite Street reveals that everything in it, including the children's toys, was sold to pay off his debts. His final Paris hotel bill, paid off by friends after his death in 1900 and calling cards in the name of Sebastian Melmoth, the psyeudonym he adopted in his final years in exile, give a vivid and moving picture of the last phase of his life.
The present Viscount Eccles commented; "Mary and Donald built up this collection with great passion and scholarly rigour. Mary's decision to give it to the British Library reflects her high esteem for the Library and its expert staff. She knew that the collection would be kept intact, complementing the Library's existing holdings and allowing new generations to appreciate the legacy of Oscar Wilde."
Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library said: "Lady Eccles was an active supporter and patron of the Library and we will miss her greatly. Her extremely generous bequest means that our existing collection of Oscar Wilde material has been greatly enhanced - this will be of immeasurable benefit to scholars across the world and this display makes it available for everyone to enjoy. "
Viscountess Eccles had long supported the British Library and endowed the David and Mary Eccles Centre for American Studies in 1991. The Centre has two broad aims: to promote the Library's North American materials and to support American Studies in schools and universities. The Centre will also benefit from an additional sum to the endowment from the Viscountess Eccles' estate.
The display will run until 31 March 2005, in the Front Hall of the British Library at St Pancras. Admission is free.
For further information and images please contact Catriona Finlayson at the British Library Press Office, Telephone +44 (0)20 7412 7114, e-mail catriona.finlayson@bl.uk
Notes for editors
1. The British Library - is the national library of the United Kingdom . It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection. Further information is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk.
2. Lady Eccles died on 26 August 2003, aged 91, at her New Jersey home, Four Oaks Farm, which contained a large, handsome and highly renowned library. Her first husband, Donald Hyde, was a lawyer and collector of eighteenth century books and manuscripts. After his death, it was her interest in the world of books which brought her into contact with her second husband, Viscount Eccles, Chairman of the British Library from 1973 to 1978. They married in 1984 and together founded the Library's Eccles Centre for American Studies in 1991.