Book by Oscar Wilde lover up for auction

LONDON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- An unpublished book by Oscar Wilde's lover, which created an intense scandal when it was written, is up for auction in London.

"The Wilde Myth," by Lord Alfred Douglas will be among the 100 letters, manuscripts, photographs and first editions presented by an anonymous British collector that will be auctioned Oct. 29 at Sotheby's of London, Britain's Telegraph reported Monday.

When Douglas wrote the scathing book in 1916, 16 years after Wilde died, Douglas was still harboring bitterness over his relationship with Wilde.

Wrote Douglas: "He was one of the most powerful forces for evil that has happened in Europe for the last 300 years. I do not know of any man who more truly and literally sold himself to the devil than he did. The Wilde myth has devastated my life from every point of view. It devastated my life when I was a victim to its illusions and it has devastated my life ever since I escaped from those illusions."

The book also criticized the prime minister at the time, which prevented it from being published.

The book is expected to bring between $70,000 and $85,000.