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Irish poet, playwright, and novelist who authored Lady Windemere's Fan, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Picture of Dorian Gray, among many others, Oscar Wilde lived wildly in a time when being considered different or alternative was tantamount to a death sentence. He paid that ultimate price, and died penniless at the age of 46.
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." So said the man born Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde on October 16th, 1854 to Sir William Wilde and Jane Francesca Elgee. Both of Oscar's parents were gifted writers, and the apple didn't fall too far from the tree. While studying at Oxford, Oscar was awarded the Newdigate prize for his poem, Ravenna, and upon graduation moved to London where he published his first collection of poetry, the aptly titled, Poems. His work led him to New York, where he gave a whole year's worth of lectures on Aestheticism, the late 19th century movement in England that came about in reaction to the strict Victorian mores of the era. Aestheticists believed art should be sensuous, beautiful and synaesthetic, and not be burdened with any moral trappings. In other words, "art is for art's sake" and nothing more. Wilde embodied these characteristics with zeal in his life and work, a stance which would bring his eventual downfall.
Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, and together had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan, who inspired him to write a series of fairy tales called, The Happy Prince and Other Tales. To support his new family, Oscar edited Women's World magazine, and for the next six years authored his most famous works. This was Wilde's most creative period, however, his personal life, or more accurately his sexual proclivities, were becoming the object of rumors and speculation. In 1991, Oscar met Lord Alfred Douglas, better known as 'Bosie', and his marriage to Constance ended two years later. Bosie's father, the Marquis of Queensberry did not react kindly to his son's relationship with the decadent writer, and accused Wilde of homosexuality. This inevitably led to a sentence of two years hard labor for the crime of sodomy. After release, Oscar penned The Ballad of Reading Gaol, chronicling the inhuman conditions of prison life.
Wilde's rising star came to an abrupt halt during the trial, and his personal life didn't fair much better. Constance moved to Switzerland with the two boys and changed her name to Holland. Oscar spent the next few years living in cheap hotels, and relying on the charity of friends. It was said that Wilde contracted syphilis, however, the truth is he died of meningitis as a result of a rare ear infection. A sad ending for a brilliant artist who's only real crime was that of being born ahead of his time.
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