Oscar Wilde Bio

Oscar Wilde was born Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde in Dublin, Ireland, on October 16, 1854.

His mother, Lady Jane Wilde, was a writer and strong supporter of Irish independence. Sir William, his

father, was a renowned surgeon.

Wilde attended Trinity College in Dublin until 1874. There he enjoyed the fruits of his hard work and

intelligence, receiving many honors. Upon graduation, he entered Magdalen College at the University of

Oxford in England. He studied under Walter Pater, a proponent of aestheticism. Wilde caused quite a stir

with his flamboyant dress and quick rapier wit. He graduated from Oxford in 1878 and moved to London.

In 1881, he collected the poems he previously published in various magazines into a volume titled

Poems. By that time, he had acquired enough fame for Gilbert and Sullivan to satirize him in the comic

opera Patience. In an effort to help pay his family’s debts after his father’s death, he embarked on a lecture

tour of America. During this time, he produced his first play in New York, Vera. It did not meet with success.

In 1884, Wilde married wealthy Constance Lloyd and returned to London. He edited Woman’s World

magazine for two years, while he published his children’s fairy tales. In 1891, he published his only novel,

The Picture of Dorian Gray. His next five plays all met with varying degrees of success, with The

Importance of Being Earnest (1895) considered his best work. During these years, Wilde carried on a

relationship with another poet, Sir Lord Alfred Douglas. Douglas’ father, the Marquess of Queensbury,

accused Wilde of being homosexual and Wilde retaliated by suing him for libel. Queensbury provided Wilde’s

letters to Douglas as proof, however, and Wilde eventually served two years in prison