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Oscar Wilde was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest playwrights of the Victorian Era.
In his lifetime he wrote nine plays, one novel, and numerous poems, short stories, and essays.
Wilde was a proponent of the Aesthetic movement, which emphasized aesthetic values more than moral or social themes. This doctrine is most clearly summarized in the phrase 'art for art's sake'.
Besides literary accomplishments, he is also famous, or perhaps infamous, for his wit, flamboyance, and affairs with men. He was tried and imprisoned for his homosexual relationship (then considered a crime) with the son of an aristocrat.
Birth name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde Birth date: October 16, 1854 Birth place: Dublin, Ireland Nationality: Irish
Wilde at Oxford (april, 1876 – age 22)Educated:
Trinity College (Dublin)
Magdalen College (Oxford)
Father: Sir William Wilde (eye doctor) Mother: Jane Francesca Elgee (poet and journalist) Siblings: brother William, sister Isola Spouse: Constance Lloyd Children: two sons - Cyril and Vyvyan
"Biography lends to death a new terror" - Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854 to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. Oscar's mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde (1820-1896), was a successful poet and journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish verse under the pseudonym "Speranza". Oscar's father, Sir William Wilde (1815 - 1876), was a leading ear and eye surgeon, a renowned philanthropist and gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and folklore. Oscar had an elder brother, Willie, and a younger sister, Isola Francesca, who died at the early age of 10.
He was educated at Portora Royal School (1864-71), Trinity College, Dublin (1871-74), and Magdalen College, Oxford (1874-78). While at Oxford, he became involved in the aesthetic movement and became an advocate for 'Art for Art's Sake' (L'art pour l'art). Whilst at Magdalen, he won the 1878 Newdigate Prize for his poem Ravenna.
After he graduated, he moved to Chelsea in London (1879) to establish a literary career. In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry - Poems that received mixed reviews by critics. He worked as an art reviewer (1881), lectured in the United States and Canada (1882), and lived in Paris (1883). He also lectured in Britain and Ireland (1883 - 1884).
On May 29, 1884, Oscar married Constance Lloyd (died 1898), daughter of wealthy Queen's Counsel Horace Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886). To support his family, Oscar accepted a job as the editor of Woman's World magazine, where he worked from 1887-1889.
In 1888, he published The Happy Prince and Other Tales, fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received quite a negative response. This had much to do with the novel's homoerotic overtones, which caused something of a sensation amongst Victorian critics. In 1891, Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed 'Bosie', who became both the love of his life and his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde statue, Dublin
Wilde's greatest talent was for writing plays. His first successful play, Lady Windermere's Fan, opened in February 1892. He produced a string of extremely popular comedies including A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). These plays were all highly acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.
In April 1895, Oscar sued Bosie's father for libel as the Marquis of Queensberry had accused him of homosexuality. Oscar's case was unsuccessful and he was himself arrested and tried for gross indecency. He was sentenced to two years of hard labor for the crime of sodomy. During his time in prison he wrote De Profundis, a dramatic monologue and autobiography, which was addressed to Bosie.
Upon his release in 1897, he wrote The Ballad of Reading Gaol, revealing his concern for inhumane prison conditions. He spent the rest of his life wandering Europe, staying with friends and living in cheap hotels. He died of cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Wilde's tomb in France (covered in lipstick kisses)
1864 - 1871
Attends Portora Royal School, Enniskillen
1871 - 1874
Attends Trinity College, Dublin
1874-1879
Attends Magdalen College, Oxford
1878 Wins Newdigate Prize for Ravenna (poem)
1881
Publishes his first collection of poetry – Poems
1882
Lectures in the United States and Canada. Writes his first play - Vera, or the Nihilists (was not a success)
1883
Lectures in Britain and Ireland. Writes his second unsuccessful play, The Duchess of Padua
1884
Marries Constance Lloyd
1885
His son, Cyril, is born
1886 His son, Vyvyan, is born
1887-1889
Edits Woman's World magazine
1888
Publishes The Happy Prince and Other Tales
1889 - 1890
Publishes several essays
1891
Publishes two collections of short stories - Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories, and A House of Pomegranates. Publishes The Picture of Dorian Gray, his first and only novel. Begins his friendship with Lord Alfred Douglas – Bosie.
1892 Writes two plays: Lady Windermere's Fan (great success) and Salome
1893 Writes A Woman of No Importance
1894 Writes The Importance of Being Earnest
1895
Writes An ldeal Husband. At the height of his theatrical success, he sues Bosie's father for libel, which leads to his own arrest for homosexual offenses. He is found guilty for the crime of sodomy and sentenced to two years of hard labor.
1897 While in prison, he writes De Profundis
1898 Writes his best known poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol. His wife, Constance, dies.
As far as I know, all photos in this gallery are in the public domain. Their copyright has expired, which means they can be used freely and reproduced in any manner by anyone without the need for permission.
Wilde and Bosie
Author: Gregory B. Tobin Last Updated: April 28, 2019
