Once revoked for 'indecency,' the British Library reinstates Oscar Wilde's library card

By Lauren Frayer

Published October 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT

When Oscar Wilde was jailed for "gross indecency," a charge historically used to criminalize gay sex, his library card was revoked. 130 years later, the British Library has re-issued it.

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Culture

Lauren Frayer

Lauren Frayer covers South Asia for NPR News. In 2018, she opened a new NPR bureau in India's biggest city, its financial center, and the heart of Bollywood—Mumbai.

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