"This is a Borzoi Book" -- From title page verso.

"Originally published in hardcover, in a different form, in Great Britain by Apollo Books, an imprint of Head of Zeus Ltd., London, in 2018." -- From title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Proem -- Part I. The star child. A small unruly boy -- A fair scholar -- Foundation scholarship -- Part II. The nightingale and the rose. Young Oxford -- Heart's yearnings -- Hellas! -- Specially commended -- Part III. The happy prince. A dream of fair women -- The jester and the joke -- Up to snuff -- An English poet -- Part IV. The remarkable rocket. The best place -- Go ahead -- This wide great world -- Bully boy -- Different aspects -- The dream of the poet -- Part V. The devoted friend. Over the Seine -- First drama -- Man of the day -- New relations -- In black and white -- ھLAmour de ھlImpossible -- Woman's world -- Part VI. The Young King. A man in hew -- A bad case -- Suggestive things -- The best society -- The dance of the seven veils -- Charming ball -- White and gold -- Part VII. The selfish giant. The eternal quest for beauty -- Feasting with panthers -- Brief summer months --Enemies of romance -- Scarlet Marquess -- Part VII. The house of judgment. The last first nights -- Hideous words -- The prosecutor -- Regina versus Wilde -- The torrent of prejudice -- Part IX. In Carcere Et Vinculis. The head of Medusa -- The system -- From the depths -- Part X. The fisherman and his soul. Asylum -- Artistic work -- Outcast men -- Bitter experience -- Part XI. The teacher of wisdom. The Parisian temple of pleasure -- Going south -- All over.