 Wilde 's two final comedies , An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest , were still on stage in London at the time of his prosecution , and they were soon closed as the details of his case became public . After two years in prison with hard labour , Wilde went into exile in Paris , sick and depressed , his reputation destroyed in England . In 1898 , when no @-@ one else would , Leonard Smithers agreed with Wilde to publish the two final plays . Wilde proved to be a diligent reviser , sending detailed instructions on stage directions , character listings and the presentation of the book , and insisting that a playbill from the first performance be reproduced inside . Ellmann argues that the proofs show a man " very much in command of himself and of the play " . Wilde 's name did not appear on the cover , it was " By the Author of Lady Windermere 's Fan " . His return to work was brief though , as he refused to write anything else , " I can write , but have lost the joy of writing " . 
 Wilde <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>two final comedies , An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest , <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> still on stage in London at the time of his prosecution , and they <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> soon closed as the details of his case became public . After two years in prison with hard labour , Wilde went into exile in Paris , sick and depressed , his reputation destroyed in England . In 1898 , when no @-@ one else would , Leonard Smithers agreed with Wilde to publish the two final plays . Wilde proved to be a diligent reviser , sending detailed instructions on stage directions , character listings and the presentation of the book , and insisting that a playbill from the first performance be reproduced inside . Ellmann <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>argues</mark></a> that the proofs show a man " very much in command of himself and of the play " . Wilde <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>name did not appear on <a href='None' title='6'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>cover</mark></a> , it was " By the Author of Lady Windermere <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>Fan " . His return to work was brief though , as he refused to write anything else , " I can write , but <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>have</mark></a> lost the joy of writing " . 
Wilde  2 final comedies , An Ideal Husband and The Importance of Being Earnest , was still on stage in London at da time of his prosecution , and they was soon closed as tdadetails of his case became public . After two yrs in prison wit hard labour , Wilde went into exile in Paris , sick and depressed , his reputation destroyed in England . In 1898 , when no @-@ one else would , Leonard Smithers agreed wwittWilde to publish the two final plays . Wilde proved to b a diligent reviser , sendin detailed instructions on stage directions , character listings and the presentation of the book , and insisting dat a playbill from thdairst performance bbreproduced inside . Ellmann argue that the proofs show a man " very much in command of himself and of the play " . Wilde  name did not appear on no cover , it was " By thedathor of Lady Windermere  Fan " . His return to work was brief tho , as he refused to write anything else , " I can write , but done lost the joy of writing " .