About this book
Robert Smythe Hichels's *The Green Carnation* is a razor-sharp satirical novel that scandalized Victorian society when it was first published anonymously in 1894. Featuring characters transparently based on Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas—figures the author knew personally—this audacious work captures the wit, aestheticism, and controversial relationship between two of literature's most celebrated figures. Through the characters of the charming Esmé Amarinth and the impressionable Lord Reginald Hastings, Hichels recreates authentic dialogue and atmospheric detail drawn from his own observations of these literary luminaries. The novel became an instant succès de scandale on both sides of the Atlantic, its influence extending far beyond the drawing rooms of London. When Wilde faced prosecution for gross indecency just months later, *The Green Carnation* became evidence used against him—a testament to the book's provocative power and cultural impact. Withdrawn from circulation in 1895, the novel remains a fascinating historical document and a brilliant example of fin-de-siècle satire. This audiobook is essential listening for those interested in Victorian literature, literary history, LGBTQ+ heritage, and Oscar Wilde's world. It offers both entertainment and insight into a pivotal moment when art, scandal, and society collided with devastating consequences.
