Profile
The project underlying this website brings together the independent Oscar Wilde scholarship of John Cooper based on over 30 years of private study and countless hours in libraries and online.
His flagship area of research is the online archive documenting Oscar Wilde’s visits to America, chronicling for accurately over 140 lectures, along with their venues, Wilde’s lodging, and much related history. Under the rubric of Oscar Wilde In America can also be found the Sarony Photographs assembled and analyzed together for the first time. Supporting sections include Wilde’s notable arrival in New York City and a detailed showcase of ephemera and quotations.
In 2012 John rediscovered Oscar Wilde's essay The Philosophy Of Dress that forms the centerpiece to his book Oscar Wilde On Dress, and this web site incorporates the background to that work.
Also consolidated as part of this umbrella project is John’s popular Oscar Wilde Blog, the leading online digest of Wilde studies.
The site has been used by scholars, institutions, and the media around the world and is the largest online resource on the life and times of Oscar Wilde.
John Cooper is solely responsible for all original research, writing, editing, and web design, and the entire project was created without funding, and is freely provided and noncommercial.
Media & Consultancy
Among John’s many freely given media engagements include several TV and radio appearances, frequent v video presentations and online teaching, and guesting in video documentaries and a feature film.
Consultancy work has come from Arts Centres, Libraries, Festivals, public broadcasting companies such BBC and PBS, and even an Oscar Wilde themed restaurant. Along with numerous invitations to present or speak at symposia and literary events, John is often cited in acknowledgments to many Oscar Wilde related works and books.
Selected Media & Features
- The Gilded Gentleman (Podcast) — Guest discussing Oscar Wilde in America and his meeting with Walt Whitman. [OPPOSITE]
- Documentary — Featured contributor in Erik Ryding's film on Wilde in New York. [OPPOSITE]
- WHYY / PBS (Radio) — Interview on Wilde scholarship and the American lecture tour. [LISTEN]
Selected Reviews
- Klinkhart Hall Arts Center’s inaugural ‘Oscar Wilde Memorial Lecture’ in Sharon Springs.
- Guest review for Oscar—The Opera
- and featured on:
- Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE - Guest review—The Judas Kiss (BAM)
- Guest review—Oscar Wilde Society Annual Dinner
- Wildean Book Review—Napoleon Sarony’s Living Pictures
- Sony Pictures Review—‘The Happy Prince’
- The Oscar Wilde Bar Opening
Biography
John Cooper is a long-standing member of the Oscar Wilde Society in London, a founding member of the erstwhile Oscar Wilde Society of America, and a former manager of the Victorian Society In America.
He lectures on Wilde, acts as a media consultant, and contributes to academic periodicals such as the Oscar Wilde Society’s scholarly journal The Wildean where he also serves on the Editorial Board.
Online he is the author and editor of this noncommercial archive and its companion scholarly blog. In the early days of the Internet John was the moderator of Oscar Wilde discussion groups at both Yahoo and Google.
For the last 20 years he has specialized in unique research into Oscar Wilde in New York, where he occasionally conducts guided walking tours based on the visits of Oscar Wilde.
Related:
Read Finding Oscar: John's personal journey in discovering the legacy of Oscar Wilde.
WATCH: full a length documentary on Wilde in New York by Erik Ryding /John Cooper.
On The Gilded Gentleman podcast, John Cooper discusses Wilde’s meeting with Walt Whitman.
John Cooper discusses Wilde ON DRESS on The Gilded Gentleman podcast.
- Oscar Wilde Society — long-time member; editorial board member of The Wildean, the Society's scholarly journal
- Modern Language Association (MLA) — member
- North American Victorian Studies Association (NAVSA) — member
Scholarship & Affiliations
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