ABSTRACT
In Dublin and in Oxford, Oscar Wilde inhabited sheltered, parochial, homogeneous precincts of privilege easily dominated by a few strong personalities. London, by virtue of its size and its diversity, attracted many more clever and talented individuals, and, as a consequence, it offered more formidable challenges for an outsider seeking to distinguish himself within an already stratified and not particularly welcoming society. Strong public personae had been celebrated in society London for centuries, though the precise nature of the more formidable brands continuously evolved. Wilde's performative efforts, unfolding as witty, effective social interactions, set him apart from the others. In London, the eccentricity per capita would have been much less than in a university town. Wilde began developing his American public persona from the moment of his arrival on 2 January 1882. In short order, he adapted to American marketing strategies.
