Oscar Wilde's De Profundis read by Patti Smith

On Sunday 30 October 2016, Patti Smith read Oscar Wilde's De Profundis in the former chapel of Reading Prison, Reading.
Oscar Wilde was incarcerated in Reading Prison, then known as Reading Gaol, 1895-97 for 'Acts of Gross Indecency with Other Male Persons.' While there he wrote De Profundis, a 50,000-word letter to his former lover Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie).
In September 2016 Artangel opened Reading Prison to the public for the first time for an exhibition of art, writing and performance. Inside: Artists and Writers in Reading Prison is open until 4 December 2016.
Patti Smith reads the first edited version of De Profundis, published five years after Wilde's death in 1905.
For more information: artangel.org.uk/project/inside/
Performed by Patti Smith: www.pattismith.net

[@rosannaachilleos-sarll8293]

I had a ticket for this reading at Reading but had to have chemotherapy and couldn't go. Just found the CZcams recording Thank you. It brought me to tears.My beautiful Irish mother read the poem to me aged about 12 sixty years ago it had a profound effect on me then and still moves me enormously today.

[@harperwelch5147]

What a precious thing this is. This reading.

[@liamcarr2146]

The late 1800's and the 1970's are, to me 2 of the most captivating eras ever comitted to history. seeing 2 of their respective icons interact like this is amazing. i wanted to go to this but it was sold out. thanks for uploading

[@MamaGator]

Liam Carr agreed

[@hushedmusic]

Wilde converted to Catholicism later after leaving prision. I have always found very moving De Profundis. May he rest in God

[@netlove1121]

May he rest in an ocean of love and light 🙏🏻🌟

[@christopherroutsis3391]

Very emotional reading. I also love how P Smith stresses the consonants.

[@michaelbaughman4017]

Wild is wind ...(a favorite of mine) fits nicely in to this plus of Saint Oscar.🌻

[@Skellelleton]

Wow!

[@debramazer7041]

precious. if I wanted numb read I would not have breathed heavily for Patti Smith.

[@adrianajanainapoetaalvesde2045]

Thank you, Patti. Blessings. (Adriana Janaína Poeta/ Clube de Leitura dos Poetas)

[@ollvvr]

Watched while listening to Abul Mogard. Ethereal.

[@MamaGator]

This is ethereal

[@boobeckett4400]

This beautiful letter deserved more artistic quality than this.

[@frankcalabretta8710]

I have an idea. She could read it slower.

[@gianluca2703]

this is just awful. is she falling asleep while reading?? no feelings, no emotions, no nothing

[@ruthcole909]

gian g, You should give it a go.

[@gianluca2703]

i forced myself to watch it till the end, but still i cant get any emotions from her reading... and i do cry every time i read the original. she may be a great singer, but this does not do justice to her or the script

[@ruthcole909]

gian g, I stopped listening too. I have watched the Trials of Oscar Wilde. (I am not such a fan of poetry as I am of prose.) I will try to read it to myself. I love those older free reads!

[@filipprudentio645]

Patti Smith is disgraceful artist who defaced genius.

[@mehrshid.motevalli6830]

Well, sorry to say that she almost ruined the text. There is a reading by Neil Bartlett, in CZcams too, takes to to heaven. Fantastic .

[@filipprudentio645]

It is a very disgraceful reading. Shame on u. You should never read Oscar Wilde again.

[@lyndajames2178]

I could not sit thru this.....