The Green Carnation
1894
Rober Smythe Hichens
London : William Heinemann
British
Novel
211pp
Gay Men, Wildean, Satire
Esmé invented this flower two months ago . Only a few people wear it, those who are followers of the higher philosophy. [...] The philosophy to be afraid of nothing, to dare to live as one wishes to live, not as the middle-classes wish one to live; to have the courage of one's desires, instead of only the cowardice of other people's.
Summary
A satire of Oscar Wilde and Bosie written by a friend and containing dialogue from real conversations with them. A woman finds herself entranced by the effeminacy of the Bosie figure, who entertains marrying her.
More Info
The book was used against Wilde in his infamous court trails, causing the publisher and Hichens to withdraw the book from sale in England. It continued to be produced in the US.
It was originally published anonymously. Wilde wrote to the Pall Mall Gazette on October 2, 1894 to declare that he had not written the novel.
The book is filled with references to artistic contemporaries and 1890's pop culture, so it can be a little difficult to follow every joke. The University of Nebraska Press (1970) version, edited by Stanley Weintraub, contains a helpful glossary.
Content & Trigger Warnings
(highlight to reveal)
IMPLIED PEDOPHILIA: At the end of the novel, Esmé, the figure of Wilde, gives a lecture to a group of young boys, are are enraptured by him.
Editions
London : William Heinemann (1894) first English edition. It has a Pionseer Series page featuring a image of four Japanese women (Picture by Connese and Friends). I'm not gonna lie—I have no idea what the kanji is and it might be made up. I see these listed through 1901, and this 1901 edition lists Hichens as the author.
New York : D. Appleton and Company (1894) first American edition is available at Archive.org. The 1895 edition is available at Google, which is an edition I own. I see these go into 1899 editions, which still do not list Hichens as the author.
New York : Mitchell Kennerly (Date Unknown) edition on Archive.org lists R. S. Hichens as the author.
Chicago : Argus Books (1929)
London : Unicorn Press (1949) edition is the first to be published in England after Hichens ended publication during the Wilde Trials. It includes a foreward by Hichens on his relationship to Wilde, Bosie, E. F. Benson, and the book. Richard Dalby's Library hosts pictures of the book and dust cover from all angles. This is an edition I own. Message me and I can provide pictures of the introduction.
Icon F2, British (1961) paperback edition.
University Press of Nebaska Press (1970) edition with an introduction by Stanley Weintraub is available on Archive.org. Contains a glossary for pop culture references.