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Born in Dublin, Ireland. His father was a successful surgeon, and his mother was a writer and literary hostess. The second of three children born to the couple: Jane, née Elgee, and Sir William Wilde. -
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This war led to France’s defeat and changed European politics. Wilde studied in England but was deeply drawn to French culture. It's art, fashion, and literature.
France’s recovery and rise of artistic movements like Aestheticism and Decadence influenced Wilde’s own style and beliefs (“art for art’s sake”). -
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This awarded him a degree with honors. This is also when he won a Newdigate Prize.
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During these four years while attending Magdalen College, Oxford, he distinguished himself not only as a Classical scholar, a poseur, and a wit but also as a poet by winning the coveted Newdigate Prize in 1878 with a long poem, Ravenna. -
He married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and they had two sons.
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"The Happy Prince, and Other Tales" by Oscar Wilde is a collection of enchanting short stories crafted during the late 19th century, specifically in the Victorian era. This book delves into themes of compassion, sacrifice, and the nature of true happiness, primarily intended for children but resonating with readers of all ages. It consists of five distinct tales that explore the moral complexities of life and love through whimsical and poignant narratives. -
The Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris (the same city Wilde later moved to). -
Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed 'Bosie'. -
The story explores themes of art, beauty, and morality, centering on the life of a young man named Dorian Gray, who becomes entranced by his own beauty and the hedonistic philosophies of Lord Henry Wotton. As Dorian gains fame and pleasure through his youthful looks, he grapples with the implications of vanity and the cost of immortality. -
The story revolves around Lady Windermere, whose marriage is put to the test when rumors surface about her husband's friendship with a notorious woman named Mrs. Erlynne. The play explores themes of fidelity, social conventions, and the complexities of human relationships. -
The work delves into themes of morality, politics, and social reputation through the lens of British high society, highlighting the complexities of human relationships and the façade of idealism. The story predominantly revolves around Sir Robert Chiltern, a prominent politician whose past threatens to unravel his perfect life and marriage. -
In April 1895, Wilde sued Bosie's father, the Marquis of Queensberry, for libel, after the Marquis has accused him of being homosexual. Wilde lost and, after details of his private life were revealed during the trial, was arrested and tried for gross indecency. He was sentenced to two years of hard labour. While in prison he composed a long letter to Douglas, posthumously published under the title 'De Profundis' . His wife took their children. -
This witty farce revolves around the theme of mistaken identities and the absurdities of Victorian society, focusing on the lives of two friends, John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, who both assume fictitious personas to escape their societal obligations. The opening of the play establishes Algernon Moncrieff's opulent flat, where he converses with his manservant Lane about the complexity of life and marriage. -
The play explores the story of Salomé, the daughter of Herodias, as she becomes infatuated with the prophet Jochanaan (John the Baptist) and ultimately demands his severed head as a reward for her dance. This surreal and visually rich narrative is embedded with themes of desire, lust, and retribution, showcasing Wilde's distinctive style and his grappling with moral and aesthetic questions. -
This narrative poem reflects on themes of guilt, love, and the harsh realities of justice as it unfolds within the confines of a prison. The work explores the experience of a condemned man and the psychological torment faced by both the perpetrator and those who witness the grim processes of capital punishment. -
He died in Paris on 30 November 1900. -