Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

Born:: October 16, 1854, Dublin, Ireland
Died:: November 30, 1900, Paris, France
Nationality:: Irish
Profession(s):: Writer, Playwright, Poet, Critic

Early Life and Education

Born to Sir William Wilde, a prominent ophthalmologist, and Jane Francesca Agnes Wilde, a poet and Irish nationalist.
Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (1871-1874), where he excelled in classics.
Won the Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek.
Attended Magdalen College, Oxford (1874-1878), gaining a double first in Classics.
Became known for his wit and association with the aesthetic movement.

Career and Major Achievements

Established himself as a prominent figure in London society through his wit and flamboyant style.
Lectured in the United States and Canada on aesthetics and interior decoration.
Served as editor of The Woman's World magazine from 1887 to 1889.
Achieved significant success as a playwright in the 1890s.
His involvement in a libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry led to his imprisonment for gross indecency.

Notable Works

Plays

Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)
A Woman of No Importance (1893)
An Ideal Husband (1895)
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
Salomé (1891, first performed in Paris, 1896)

Novel

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)

Poetry

Ravenna (1878)
Poems (1881)
The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898)

Essays and Criticism

The Decay of Lying (1889)
Pen, Pencil and Poison (1889)
The Critic as Artist (1890)
De Profundis (written in prison, published posthumously in 1905)

Legacy and Impact

Oscar Wilde remains a celebrated literary figure known for his wit, aestheticism, and exploration of social hypocrisy. His plays continue to be performed worldwide, and his writings are studied for their insights into Victorian society and enduring artistic merit. The photographs, including those from the napoleon sarony oscar wilde biography collections, help visualize and preserve his legacy.