Lord Alfred Bruce Douglas (1870–1945,) known as Bosie, was an English poet, journalist, and literary figure, best known for his tumultuous relationship with Oscar Wilde and his contributions to early 20th-century poetry. His works explored beauty, love, and personal struggle.
Born in Powick, Worcestershire, England, he studied at Winchester College and Magdalen College-Oxford, where he edited The Spirit Lamp, an undergraduate journal with homoerotic themes. His association with Wilde led to scandal, culminating in Wilde’s trial and imprisonment (1895.)
Douglas’s poetry, particularly his Uranian verse, gained recognition for its lyrical elegance. His famous poem, Two Loves (1892,) contains the phrase “the love that dare not speak its name,” often misattributed to Wilde. Other notable works include The City of the Soul (1899,) Sonnets (1909,) and In Excelsis (1924,) banned for blasphemy.
He converted to Roman Catholicism (1911) and renounced his past associations, becoming a vocal critic of homosexuality and Wilde’s legacy. He also pursued legal battles, including a libel case against Winston Churchill (1923.)
Biographies include Douglas Murray’s Bosie: A Biography of Lord Alfred Douglas (2000,) offering an in-depth look at his life, and H. Montgomery Hyde’s Lord Alfred Douglas: A Biography (1985,) examining his poetry and struggles.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Lord Alfred Douglas
All good poetry is forged slowly and patiently, link by link, with sweat and blood and tears.
—Lord Alfred Douglas
Topics: Poetry
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