OsCAR WILDE

are looking at the stars.’

era; the period where Queen Victoria ruled. This time is

often believed to be a period of strictly conservative family values and prudery. Whilst it was certainly true that the traditional nuclear family was celebrated and upheld there were many elements of the Victorian period which were dynamic and progressive.

both prominent figures in Irish society. His father, William Wilde,

was an eye specialist who was knighted for his work. He believed that it was important that the city’s poor should be able to access medical attention so he funded and opened a free eye and ear hospital.

when she began writing revolutionary poems under the pseudonym "Speranza"

for a weekly Irish newspaper, The Nation. In 1848 the newspaper offices were raided and had to close.

he continued to support after he married Jane Elgee. Oscar’s

parents also had another, older, son William and a daughter Isola.

Oscar was grief stricken and for the rest of his

life he carried a lock of her hair sealed in a decorated envelope.

at University.
He attended Trinity College in Dublin and in 1874

won a scholarship to Oxford University in England.

in a difficult financial state.

William’s eldest son, Henry, supported the

family.

London where he shared a house with Frank Milne; a

portrait painter.

In 1881 Oscar published his first collection of poetry: “Poems”.

for being both a witty speaker and a connoisseur of

good taste, aesthetics and intellectual pursuits.

He went on a lecture tour of the United States speaking on Aesthetics. He was on the tour for almost a year and gave 140 lectures in 260 days.

well educated and outspoken.
Oscar and Constance had two sons:

Cyril and Vyvyan. To support his family Oscar took on the role of editing of ‘Women’s World’ for two years.

period of his life. He published two collections of children's

stories, “The Happy Prince and Other Tales” (1888), and “The House of Pomegranates” (1892). His first and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in an American magazine in 1890 to a storm of critical protest. He expanded the story and had it published in book form the following year. Its implied homoerotic theme was considered very immoral by the Victorians and played a considerable part in his later legal trials. Oscar's first play, “Lady Windermere's Fan,” opened in February 1892. Its financial and critical success prompted him to continue to write for the theater. His subsequent plays included “A Woman of No Importance” (1893), “An Ideal Husband” (1895), and “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1895). These plays were all highly acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.”

http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/bio3.htm

immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written.”


Plate from

‘Salome’
Aubrey Beardsley

Bosie. Bosie and Oscar began a relationship that lasted for

four years.

Bosie’s father was the Marquis of Queensbury who took offence at his son’s relationship and called Oscar a ‘somdomnite’ meaning sodomnite.

had accused him of homosexuality. He later withdrew the charge.

However,

based on the evidence presented to the court he was charged with gross indecency and found guilty. Oscar was sentenced to two years hard labour.

is, that things are what they are and will be

what they will be.”

physically demanding and his health was ruined.

Constance moved to

Switzerland with the children after the trial and changed her name. She died in 1898.

also published the ‘Ballad of Reading Goal’.

He briefly rekindled his

relationship with Bosie but largely spent the last three years of his life living at friends’ houses across Europe.