Ross published the letter in 1905, five years after Wilde's death, giving it the title " De Profundis" from Psalm 130. Wilde entrusted the manuscript to the journalist Robert Ross (another former lover, loyal friend, and rival to "Bosie"). Nelson gave the long letter to him on his release on. He was not allowed to send the long letter which he was allowed to write "for medicinal purposes" each page was taken away when completed, and only at the end could he read it over and make revisions. Nelson, the new prison governor, thought that writing might be more cathartic than prison labour. Contact had lapsed between Douglas and Wilde and the latter had suffered from his close supervision, physical labour, and emotional isolation. Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897, close to the end of his imprisonment. The letter begins "Dear Bosie" and ends "Your Affectionate Friend".
In the second half, Wilde charts his spiritual development in prison and identification with Jesus Christ, whom he characterises as a romantic, individualist artist. He indicts both Lord Alfred's vanity and his own weakness in acceding to those wishes.
In its first half, Wilde recounts their previous relationship and extravagant lifestyle which eventually led to Wilde's conviction and imprisonment for gross indecency.
De Profundis (Latin: "from the depths") is a letter written by Oscar Wilde during his imprisonment in Reading Gaol, to "Bosie" ( Lord Alfred Douglas).
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