Oscar Wilde

His father William was a leading Irish ophthalmic and ear surgeon who was elevated to peerage in 1864 for his services. Jane's mother was a successful poet and Irish nationalist, writing under the name "Speranza." Oscar Wilde was born the second of their three children, between older brother William and sister Isola, but she died at the age of nine from meningitis. The Wildhouse was a medical and cultural centre in Dublin frequented by many well-known figures. Oscar studied at home until the age of 10, attending the Royal School of Puerto Rico in Ennisklenn from 1864 to 1871. He then studied classical philology at Trinity College, Dublin, where he majored in ancient Greek literature. In 1874 he went to Magdalen College, Oxford, and there he attracted attention not only for his superior intellect and oratory, but also for his extravagant demeanour and dress. The philosophy of his professor Walter Pater, a promoter, had a major impact on his life attitude and later work. He began writing verses influenced by english pre-Raphaelites (a 1878 poem by Ravenna) and became familiar with decadent views that had a great influence on him. He successfully completed his studies in 1878 and settled in London after a brief sojourn in Dublin. He lived freely regardless of the conventions and hypocritical morality of the upper classes of Victorian England, consciously shocking prudish society. For his charm, wit and storytelling, he was a sought-after and popular companion. Wilde was a representative of young artists who openly spoke out against bad taste, emphasizing aesthetic values in art and life. He published his verses in various journals and in 1881 published his first collection entitled Poems, which was favourably received by critics. In 1881, as a promoter of the aesthetic movement, he undertook a highly successful lecture tour of North America. For the money he earned, he spent three months in Paris in 1883 and returned to New York in August for the launch of his first play, Vera. After returning to London, he lectured on his impressions of visiting the US and the values of art in modern life. He laid down his extravagant clothes and became a promoter of the modern lifestyle.

On 29 May 1884, he married Constance Lloyd in London, whose financial security enabled him to live in relative luxury. They moved to a big apartment in Chelsea. Oscar Wilde was a sensitive and loving father to two sons - Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886). From 1886 to 1889 he was involved in journalism. In his articles and columns, he commented on various current events. In mid-1887, he became editor of The World of Women (Lady's World), a magazine in which he wrote about parenting, culture and politics, fashion and art. In late 1889, he left the paper because he wanted to devote himself exclusively to his own creative work. He has been writing stories for various magazines since 1887, and in 1888 he published a set of fairy tales, The Happy Prince and other Tales. He also published several brilliant studies on art and a political essay, The Soul of Man under Socialism, in which he displayed a strong social feeling. He gradually became a well-known and respected writer. In 1891, two collections of stories were published: The crime of Lord Arturo Savile and other short stories (Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories) and The House of Pomegranates, which he credited to his wife. In the same year, his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published.

Between 1892 and 1895, Wilde achieved great success as a playwright. His social conversation comedy Lady Windermere's Fan (1892), A Woman of No Importance (1893), The Ideal Husband (1895), How Important It Is to Have Philip (The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895), with its original plot and witty dialogue, also contains a critique of contemporary society and morality. They have gained worldwide popularity and are still playing today. The one-act tragedy on the biblical theme, Salome, was originally written by Wilde in French, and later translated into English by Alfred Douglas. Sarah Bernhardt was scheduled to play the lead role at the launch in London, but the game was banned. It did not premiere until 1896 in Paris. From 1891 Wilde maintained a close relationship with the young, handsome Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas, with whom he fell passionately in love. This alluded to the displeasure of Bosie's father, the Marquess of Queensberry. On February 19, 1895, he tried to create a scandal at the premiere of Wilde's play How Important It Is to Have Philip, whereupon Bosie persuaded Wilde to sue his father for libel. However, the ongoing litigation eventually turned against him. The Marquis of Queensberry was freed and, conversely, Wilde was arrested on April 5 of the same year for an offense against moral integrity. On 6 April, the trial began, at the end of which Wilde was sentenced to two years in prison and forced labour. London's hypocritical elite turned away from him entirely. He served his sentence in Wandsworth and then Reading. During his time in prison, he wrote a lengthy letter to Alfred Douglas for his personal confession, which was published after his death under the title De profundis (1905). His wife Constance, whom he had broken up with in 1893, changed his surname to Holland for himself and his sons. Constance died in 1898 in Genoa, Italy, and son Cyril was killed during World War I in France. Vyvyan became a writer and translator and published his memoirs in 1954. After his release from prison, Oscar Wilde went to France in 1898, where he met only his most loyal friends. With great breaks, he produced his last poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), which was published in six editions in three months. He changed his name to Sebastian Melmoth and spent most of his time on the road. He lived with Alfred Douglas for several months, but they separated under pressure from the family. His creative drive evaporated. He sometimes wrote articles for newspapers and worked on proofreading his plays. He was destitute and relied on financial help from his friends. He died in poverty with failing health from meningitis in Paris at the Hotel d'Alsace in rue des Beaux-Arts. At the moment of his death, his friends Robert Ross and Regie Turner were with him. He is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, but initially his remains were interred in a cemetery in Bagneux. Funeral expenses were paid for by Lord Alfred, who also attended.