The Ballad of Reading Gaol
The Ballad of Reading Gaol, poem by Oscar Wilde, published in 1898. This long ballad, Wilde’s last published work, is an eloquent plea for reform of prison conditions. It was inspired by the two years Wilde spent in the jail in Reading, Eng., after being convicted of sodomy.
Citation Information
Article Title:
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
04 August 2017
Access Date:
March 04, 2025