British Museum Honours Oscar Wilde With Posthumous Library Card

More than a century after being excluded, Wilde's reading privileges are finally restored. The museum honours his impact on literature and society.

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2025 October 19 . 2:04 AM

1 min read

In the picture there is a bag and some books on a bed. On the bag it was written library lovers.

British Museum Honours Oscar Wilde With Posthumous Library Card

In a historic move, the British Museum's Reading Room is posthumously issuing a library card to renowned author Oscar Wilde, more than a century after his untimely death. Wilde, who was famously excluded from the reading room on June 15, 1895, following his trial and conviction for gross indecency, will now have his reading privileges restored. The move comes as part of the museum's ongoing efforts to recognise and celebrate the contributions of marginalised figures in history. The library card, which would have allowed Wilde access to the vast collection of books and resources in the reading room, was revoked during a time when societal attitudes towards homosexuality were far less accepting. Today, the British Museum seeks to right this historical wrong and honour Wilde's literary legacy. Oscar Wilde's posthumous library card serves as a poignant reminder of the past's intolerance and a beacon of hope for a more inclusive future. The British Museum's Reading Room welcomes Wilde's spirit, acknowledging his enduring impact on literature and society.