Oscar Wilde: Life and Literary Contributions
Oscar Wilde, born in Dublin in 1854, was one of the most successful playwrights and celebrated figures of late Victorian London. His life and works embodied the aesthetic movement of the 19th century, challenging conventional Victorian values and championing the idea of "Art for art's sake".
Highlight: Wilde's adoption of the aesthetic ideal represented a challenge against Victorian values of material utility, respectability, and strict morality.
Wilde's literary career spanned various genres, including poetry, fairy tales, plays, and his only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray". His writing style was characterized by elegance, wit, and a masterful use of language.
Quote: "There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."
Tragically, Wilde's life took a dramatic turn when he was convicted of gross indecency for homosexual acts and imprisoned. He died in Paris in 1900, at the age of 46.