Oscar Wilde biography

Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet who became one of the most celebrated personalities of the Victorian era. Born in Dublin, he excelled in classics at Trinity College and later at Oxford, where he became a leading proponent of Aestheticism - the belief in "art for art's sake." Known for his flamboyant dress and biting wit, Wilde was a staple of London's social and literary circles.

Wilde's literary output was as varied as it was brilliant. He published his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, in 1890, which shocked critics with its perceived immorality. He found his greatest success on the stage with sparkling society comedies like The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. These plays are still performed globally for their mastery of the English language and satirical take on Victorian manners.

His life took a tragic turn in 1895 when he was imprisoned for "gross indecency" following a scandalous legal battle with the Marquess of Queensberry. After two years of hard labour, he emerged physically and financially broken. He spent his final years in exile in France, where he wrote the haunting poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol. Wilde died in Paris at the age of 46, famously maintaining his wit until the very end.

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