Oscar Wilde

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Article has remained stable at GA level for nearly four months, since then extra attention has been paid to images, citation formatting, sources, structure and copyediting. I am considering nominating the article for FA status, does it meet the criteria? The article is a biography of a well known writer, thus occasionally subject to poor edits, but these art usually removed quickly by editors who watch the article.

1. With the length, does the prose and strucuture sustain a reader's interest? It should be a pleasurable read.

2. Is everything explained properly, does it presume any information to a reader who is unfamiliar with the topic?

3. Are there any parts you doubt?

4. Where is there too much detail, too little?

Thanks, Ktlynch (talk) 23:25, 10 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Brianboulton comments: I am delighted to see this article coming up for review, with a view to a future FAC nomination. FAC is a tough place these days, and in my view this article, though substantial, well researched and pleasantly written, still needs considerable work. Here are some suggestions for action.

Lead

Several problems here:-

• The first paragraph needs rewriting so that, instead of summarising Wilde's early years it follows the initial identifying sentence with something which encapsualtes the most significant and memorable aspect of Wilde's life. I would suggest sometning like this:-

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish writer, poet, and prominent aesthete who became a leading figure in London's social and literary circles in the late 19th century. At the height of his fame he was brought down, in 1895, by a scandal arising from his homosexual relationships. As a result, Wilde spent two years in prison, followed by voluntary exile which lasted until his death.

• The lead at present seems a little over-detailed, and would benefit from a broader-brush approach.
• It would be useful if the major events mentioned in the lead were dated.
• The significant outcome of the libel case is not that the charge against Queensberry was dropped, but that Queensberry's allegations were held to be justified. It was this that prompted Wilde's arrest. The last paragaph of the lead should reflect this.

Inappropriate section and subsection headings

Headings should be simple and explanatory, rather than cryptic or literary. The following should be renamed:-

• All the World's a Stage: 1892–1895
• Oscar goes to the theatre
• Feasting with panthers

I am also a little bit dubious of "Apprenticeship of an aesthete".

Infobox

I am not a particular fan of infoboxes, but if there is to be one, it could be more informative than this. There are other fields in the Infobox Writer template, e.g. parents, spouse, children, which could be employed.

Structural point

It looks odd and wrong to see a section with a single subsection in it. The opening paragraphs of the "Themes and influences" should be given one or more subheadings.

Uncited statements

There are numerous instances of uncited statements, often at the ends of paragraphs. Here are a few examples where citations would seem to be acquired:-

• "Originally planned to last four months, it was continued for over a year due to the commercial success."
• "During rehearsal Alexander requested that Wilde shorten the play from four acts to three, which the author did."
• "In 1946, Hesketh Pearson published The Life of Oscar Wilde (Methuen), it contains material derived from conversations with many who had known or worked with Wilde. It gives a vivid impression of what Wilde's presence must have been like, although dated."

As well as the above and many other instances in the main text, none of the footnoted information is cited to a source.

Prose glitches

I've not had time to make a close reading of the text, but in skimming through I noticed these:

• "Wilde was one of the most well-known personalities of his day" (rather than "best-known"?)
• "Rehearsals, including Sarah Bernhardt began, ..."
• "By 1893 Wilde was infatuated with Douglas and they consorted together regularly in tempestuous affair."

I also noticed some phrasing that sounded distinctly POV. For example: "Unlike Wilde's idealised, pederastic relations with..." Whose choice of wording is this?

Image licensing

Most of the older images have the wrong licences, and/or lack other information. I realise that you are not responsible for uploading these, but before the article goes to FAC these issues will need to be resolved. Here is a list of the problems:-

• File:Oscar Wilde portrait.jpg: We need to know the source, i.e. where the photograph was scanned from by the uploader. We need to know if and when the photograph was published, to determine whether the image is free of copyright.
• File:Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), by Hills & Saunders, Rugby & Oxford 3 april 1876.jpg Same applies.
• File:Oscar Wilde Aesthetic Cigars.jpg: The correct licence is probably PD-US, since this trade card was evidently published in the US before 1923.
• File:Wasp cartoon on Oscar Wilde.jpg: The descrption says that this drawing s from a journal published in 1882, so the correct licence is PD-US. It would be better still if we can pinpoint the exact date of issue of the journal. In any event, freedom from copyright cannot be claimed on the basis of "author's date + 70 years" when we don't know who the author is. It is possible, if unlikely, that this artist was still alive in 1940.
• File:Robert Ross at 24.jpg: No description, no source, no author, unjustified use of PD-old licence.
• File:Wildeanddouglas.jpg: PD-US claimed, but no details of publication given to support it.
• File:Oscarwildetrial.jpg: Needs PD-US licence.
• File:Punch - Oscar Wilde.png: Ditto

Miscelaneous points

• Source needed for current value estimation
• Some references are lacking publisher information
• Bibliography: publication date required for Famous Trials
• Links need checking. That for Robbie Ross goes to an Australian rugby player
• Accuracy: Richard D'Oyly Carte was an American? No way, no way.

I hope these comments are helpful, and I shall watch the article's progress with interest. Brianboulton (talk) 22:39, 16 August 2010 (UTC)[reply]