Oscar Wilde

Irish, 1854–1900

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and author celebrated for his dazzling wit and flamboyant style. His only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a Gothic tale of vanity and moral corruption, while his comedies — particularly The Importance of Being Earnest — are masterpieces of theatrical satire. Wilde was one of the most famous personalities of his age, and his trial and imprisonment for homosexuality made him a symbol of artistic martyrdom.