“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity, is the vital thing.”
—Gwendolen, in Act III of The Importance of Being Importance
As when they put rope barriers around Stonehenge (also in the news these days), the tombstone of Oscar Wilde is now off limits for close-up spiritual healing. No more kissing the dandy’s tomb, folks!
Oscar got off better than other dead-artist pilgrimage meccas. James Dean’s tombstone got stolen in 1983, found a month later, then stolen again five months after that, then replaced with a new stone—which got stolen (and swiftly recovered) 15 years later.
The most-kissed tomb in Pere Lachaise cemetery has not been Wilde’s but that of the Brecht-covering, Living Theater-loving, other-side-breaker-on-througher Jim Morrison.
Wilde’s get appreciated from new angles all over the place these days. If you haven’t yet read Alex Ross’ August (and august) New Yorker piece on him here.