Written during his time in Reading Gaol, de Profundis is Oscar Wilde's moving letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, whose relationship with Wilde led to the poet's imprisonment. Here Wilde repudiates Lord Alfred and reflects on his ordeal, acknowledging how the depths of his sorrow have helped liberate him towards a fuller, freer wisdom. Brimming with beautiful passages, de Profundis is a profound and inspiring treatise on the meaning of suffering. Simon Russell Beale is one of Britain's leading stage and screen actors. He is an Assoc. Artist of the National Theatre and RSC, and has played starring roles for both companies. For the BBC, he has performed in Legacy, Spooks and Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, which won him a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. His films include My Week with Marilyn and The Deep Blue Sea directed by Terence Davies.