Chapter 6, Declaring His Genius Summary

After Wilde departs Frank Mile's house, he moves to smaller rooms, and money is again a problem. He hopes that Mrs. Bernard Beere's upcoming performance in Vera will help his finances. While waiting for the production of the play, Wilde receives a cablegram from Richard D'Oyly Carte in New York that invites him to lecture in the United States on the subject of aestheticism.

The opening of Vera never happens because of two assassinations, Czar Alexander II and President Garfield. The primary theme of Vera is anti-royalty, and it includes an assassination attempt. Although the attempt is thwarted on stage, powerful people oppose the production. This setback gives further reason for Oscar to lecture in the United States.

Although Wilde has no innate talent for oratory, he succeeds in making splashes in other ways. While English society...