Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic renowned for his sharp wit and flamboyant style. Educated at Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University, he became known for his only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," and his many successful plays, such as "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "An Ideal Husband." Wilde was a leading figure of the Aesthetic Movement, advocating "art for art's sake." His life was marked by a spectacular rise and fall; he was imprisoned for "gross indecency" due to his homosexuality, which significantly influenced his later works. Wilde remains a pivotal figure in literature and LGBTQ history.