A Wilde good time

The decorated books of Oscar Wilde and his circle from the James G. Nelson Collection are on display in Special Collections of Memorial Library, The exhibit, titled "Flights of Fancy," features the works of Wilde plus material by Aubrey Beardsley, many writers, book designers, and illustrators.

The exhibit focuses on three London publishing houses of the 1890s: The Bodley Head, Elkin Mathews, and Leonard Smithers. Through unusual and rare books, the exhibit illustrates the aesthetic and cultural milieu from which significant literary and artistic achievements of the late Victorian period emerged, leading to the rise of modern literature.

Also on display are some early editions of W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and William Carlos Williams. The exhibit continues through February.

Librarian Jill Rosenshield, Professor Emeritus of English James G. Nelson, and Librarian Yvonne Schofer.