OSCAR WILDE IN NEW YORK
Guided Walking Tours
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"Thank you for such an excellent and informative tour" DeeDee Lanzet, CEO Lanzet Inc., New York "a
most enlightening - and entertaining tour" "I
cannot wait until I have the opportunity to take part two.."
"thoughtful and precise.." "I have
nothing but praise for the tour."
"a fascinating
tour. We enjoyed ourselves tremendously."
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THE TOURS
But in 1882 that is just what he did on an extended lecture tour across the continent; and he spent more time in New York than anywhere else, returning to the city a year later to stage his first play. These walks trace those visits and examine what brought him to New York, and what he did while he was here as seen through his own eyes and those of the press and the people who knew him. Discover extant buildings that Oscar Wilde not only was familiar with, but also those he visited and even where he lived. Learn about the times of this fascinating personality whose self-styled genius is as relevant today as it was when he declared it on arriving at the New York customs house. Based on new and unique research into Oscar Wilde and his circle in the New York of the gilded age, these walks will appeal anyone with an interest in the people, places and history of the period. And while the tours are designed for anyone who simply wants an enjoyable walk in the city, they are detailed enough to inform even the Wilde scholar. And while the two walks complement each other, they are distinct enough to be taken separately.
WALK I This walk traces his arrival with a leafy stroll through Madison Square and Gramercy Park discovering the places he knew and visited as he made his New York debut in the social and literary world. Unearth the reasons for Oscar's visit, and the stories behind his lectures, parties, receptions, and appearances in the leading periodicals of the day. Along the way, discover many other celebrities and literary giants of the period and Wilde's connection with them.
CULTURAL INFLUENCES - THEN & NOW
Find out what he meant as we continue to trace his stay in New York. Also see how he was influenced by the aesthetic movement of his time, and how, in turn, he influenced the homosexual movement of today. |
George Bernard Shaw expressed a similar idea in act 4, Man and Superman, published ten years after Lady Windermere’s Fan, when Mendoza says: “There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart’s desire. The other is to gain it.” source: Bartlett 856-625-6793john@owsoa.org |
Many
people would be surprised to learn that Oscar Wilde, the Irish wit, dandy and
writer, who was famous for his life in London and Paris, spent a whole year
in America. 
In 1882, Oscar Wilde arrived in New York and famously declared his
genius. 
Oscar Wilde said there are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting
what one wants; the other is getting it.*