Violet was a daughter of Pre-Raphaelite painter Alfred William Hunt and a bestselling novelist Margaret Raine Hunt, also known as a translator of Grimms’ Fairy Tales. While Violet became a successful writer on her own too, her role in society was more known as being an active feminist, and a host of literary salons with many reputable guests among which several became her lovers.
When Oscar Wilde met her, he said: »We will rule the world - you with your looks and me with my wit. » He was a frequent visitor of the Hunts for two years, but we don’t have any proof if ever popped the question (there is a story he asked her to marry him in Dublin in 1879).
Being true or false, she soon decided to spend more time in the company of other men (yes, plural). On one occasion she said ’she prefer married men because nobody could believe that she wanted to catch them.’ Among her trophies were George Boughton (painter), Oswald Crawfurd (publisher), and writers Somerset Maugham, H. G. Wells and Ford Madox Ford.
Being a prolific writer with 17 published novels, extravagant, extremely smart and a model for Ford’s Sylvia Tietjens, one of the evilest characters in modern literature, she definitely deserves being described as one of the ’Wilde’s women’, although their relationship probably never became more than professional. He encouraged her to write and was a fan of her sensational writing style.
Did we miss to mention any of important women in Oscar Wilde’s life?
I guess we can say there's an influential woman behind every great man. Or at least ten of them in Oscar Wilde's case:) Thanks Veronica for stopping by.
You are right. I had never thought of women on being an influence on Oscar Wilde.
This is an excellent and informative article and you have touched on so many areas of his life.
TY for posting.