Charles Ricketts (1866-1931), painter illustrator, theatrical designer and publisher, was one of Wilde’s closest friends; he also worked on stages productions and books with Wilde. He later set up his own, hugely influential presses. Shortly before his death, Ricketts finally wrote this account of his friendship with Wilde, which he cast in part as an imagined conversation with a fictitious French author, Jean Paul Raymond. The memoir was printed by of the great book designers of the following generation. The poet and publisher Francis Meynell.

This edition reproduces that original design, including the spectacular cover based by Ricketts on his designs for Salomé. An afterword by Mathhew Sturgis puts the work in the context of the 188’s and 1890’s, of Wilde’s astonishing succuss and terrible downfall.