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He lost the case as Queensberry, aided by the London police, easily found a string of 13 rent-boys willing to testify against him. Even the pageboy at the Savoy hotel was on the list.  

He lost the case as Queensberry, aided by the London police, easily found a string of 13 rent-boys willing to testify against him. Even the pageboy at the Savoy hotel was on the list.  

The Crown prosecution service then had no choice but to prosecute Wilde on criminal charges, and he was duly convicted and sentenced to 2 years in prison, a minimal sentence as he could have been liable for five years for perjury and contempt of court. Douglas fled abroad.

The Crown prosecution service then had no choice but to prosecute Wilde on criminal charges, and he was duly convicted and sentenced to 2 years in prison, a minimal sentence as he could have been liable for five years for perjury and contempt of court.  

After the sentence was announced, the police waited 48 hours before arresting Wilde, as it was usual to give men convicted under this law (which was intended as a deterrent) a chance to escape to the Continent. Wilde however did not leave and in effect chose to go to jail, greatly underrating the effect hardship would have on one habituated to ease and luxury.  Wilde's wife divorced him, his plays were taken off the stage and he was declared bankrupt, as he had been, under Douglas's influence, living beyond his means. After his release he went to France and for a short while tried to live with Douglas, who was still living a life of carefree promiscuity with all the boys he could obtain, but the two men soon parted. Before Wilde's death in Paris in 1900 he wrote ''The Ballad of Reading Gaol'' and ''De Profundis''.

After the sentence was announced, the police waited 48 hours before arresting Wilde, as it was usual to give men convicted under this law (which was intended as a deterrent) a chance to escape to the Continent. Wilde however did not leave and in effect chose to go to jail, greatly underrating the effect hardship would have on one habituated to ease and luxury.  Wilde's wife divorced him, his plays were taken off the stage and he was declared bankrupt, as he had been, under Douglas's influence, living beyond his means. After his release he went to France and for a short while tried to live with Douglas, who was still living a life of carefree promiscuity with all the boys he could obtain, but the two men soon parted. Wilde's wife Constance died in April 1898 of a combination of illnesses undoubtedly brought on by distress, humiliation isolation and poverty as a result of Wilde's behaviour. She was aged 39.

Before Wilde's death in Paris in 1900 he wrote ''The Ballad of Reading Gaol'' and ''De Profundis''.

On his deathbed Wilde, who had been born Protestant, converted to Roman Catholicism, at the behest of Robert Ross.

On his deathbed Wilde, who had been born Protestant, converted to Roman Catholicism, at the behest of Robert Ross.

<ref>Richard Ellman, Oscar Wilde.(Random House, 1989).

<ref>Richard Ellman, Oscar Wilde.(Random House, 1989).