Oscar Wilde, the flamboyant and witty Irish writer, was a giant of the late Victorian era.

Born in Dublin in 1854, Wilde excelled in academics, winning scholarships to Trinity College Dublin and Magdalen College Oxford.

He became a champion of the Aesthetic movement, advocating for “art for art’s sake” and expressing himself through poetry, lectures, and art criticism.

The 1890s saw Wilde’s rise as a celebrated playwright. His comedies, like “Lady Windermere’s Fan” (1892) and the masterpiece “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895), were known for their clever dialogue and social satire. His only novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (1891), a Gothic exploration of beauty and morality, brought him both fame and notoriety for its perceived immorality.

Wilde’s personal life, marked by his relationship with Lord Alfred Douglas, collided with Victorian social norms.

Public accusations and legal battles resulted in his imprisonment for gross indecency in 1895.

The experience left him ostracized and his literary output dwindled.

Wilde died in Paris in 1900 at the young age of 46.

Despite his tragic end, Wilde’s legacy endures.

His plays are still performed worldwide, his epigrams remain quotable, and his novel continues to be a subject of fascination.

He is remembered as a brilliant wit, a champion of aestheticism, and a complex figure who challenged Victorian conventions.